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A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG   LADY. 


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A    ROMANTIC    YOUNG     LADY. 

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TICKNOR  &  COMPANY,   BOSTON. 


ROMANTIC   YOUNG   LADY 


BY 


ROBERT  GRANT 

AUTHOR  OF 

'THB  CONFESSIONS  OF  A  FRIVOLOUS  GIRL,"  "AN  AVERAGE  MAN, 
"  THE  KNAVE  OF  HEARTS,"  ETC. 


BOSTON 

TICKNOR     AND     COMPANY 
211  STremont  Street 


Copyright,  iS8b, 

BY    TlCKNOR    AND    COMPANY. 


All  rights  reserved. 


SECOND  EDITION. 


Hr.ifatnsitg  JSrtsB: 
JOHN  WILSON  AND  SON,  CAMBRIDGE. 


BOOK  I. 
INNOCENCE. 


A   ROMANTIC  YOUNG  LADY. 


I. 

1V/TY  mother  died  in  giving  me  birth.  My 
father  was  a  very  rich  man,  a  railway 
magnate,  so  called,  absorbed  in  great  business 
enterprises.  Thus  it  happened  that  I  was 
brought  up  between  two  fires,  —  my  father's 
sister,  Aunt  Agnes ;  and  my  mother's  sister, 
Aunt  Helen. 

Aunt  Agnes  was  prim  but  cultivated.  She 
wrote  for  reviews  and  wore  eye-glasses,  and  her 
library  table  was  habitually  littered  with  pam 
phlets  and  tomes.  On  the  other  hand,  Aunt 
Helen  was  a  neat,  dapper  little  woman,  who 
lived  in  a  gem  of  a  house  and  delighted  in 
bric-a-brac  and  entertaining.  They  were  both 
spinsters.  Each  of  them  passed  one  evening 
in  every  week  with  me.  On  Tuesdays  I  dined 


10  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

with  Aunt  Agnes,  and  on  Fridays  with  Aunt 
Helen.  Thus  I  was  alone  only  two  evenings 
out  of  seven,  for  on  Sundays  my  father  did  not 
go  to  the  Club. 

From  the  age  of  ten  until  I  was  fifteen  I  at 
tended  a  private  school.  I  proved  ambitious 
and  quick  at  my  books.  Aunt  Helen  was 
anxious  that  I  should  be  well  grounded  in  the 
modern  languages,  while  Aunt  Agnes  wished 
me  to  pursue  what  she  styled  "  serious  "  studies. 
In  my  efforts  to  please  them  both  I  broke  down 
in  health.  My  father  was  the  first  to  observe 
my  pallid  cheeks,  and  at  the  advice  of  a  physi 
cian  I  was  taken  away  from  school.  For  nearly 
a  year  I  was  idle,  save  that  I  read  at  random  in 
my  father's  library.  Then  my  aunts  for,  once 
put  their  heads  together  and  insisted  upon  my 
having  a  governess.  They  told  my  father  that 
the  next  three  years  were  the  most  important 
in  my  life,  and  that  the  best  way  to  foster  my 
health  was  to  find  some  judicious  person  to  be 
my  companion. 

Aunt  Helen  was  in  favor  of  one  who  had 
youth  and  good  spirits,  but  Aunt  Agnes  thought 
it  important  that  a  governess  should  inspire  re 
spect.  I  was  not  consulted,  and  my  father 
declined  to  arbitrate  between  them.  In  the 


A  ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  II 

end,  the  favorite  of  Aunt  Agnes  was  installed, 
through  the  chance  discovery  that  the  other 
applicant  had  been  at  one  time  on  the  stage. 

Miss  Jenks  was  a  kind  but  sober  disciplina 
rian  of  fifty.  I  was  her  pupil  until  I  was  eigh 
teen  ;  and  though  I  was  none  the  less  lonely 
because  of  her  companionship,  I  am  in  her  debt 
to-day  for  the  pains  she  took  to  systematize  my 
heterogeneous  acquirements  and  teach  me  the 
evils  of  superficiality.  Her  views  of  life  were  au 
tumnal  in  tint,  and  her  laugh  was  never  hearty. 
She  rarely  conversed  with  me  at  length ;  but 
if  I  made  inquiries  concerning  any  matter  of 
knowledge,  I  was  sure  to  find  a  book  or  pam 
phlet  on  my  desk  the  next  day,  with  slips  mark 
ing  the  valuable  pages.  She  kept  me  so  steadily 
employed  during  the  hours  I  was  not  in  bed  or 
in-  the  fresh  air  that  I  had  no  time  for  novel- 
reading,  —  a  pastime  I  had  indulged  in  formerly 
to  a  considerable  extent.  I  thrived  physically 
under  this  regimen,  but  I  became  silent  and 
grave.  Miss  Jenks  seemed  constantly  on  her 
guard  against  undue  enthusiasm,  and  abetted  by 
her  example  I  inclined  to  introspection  and 
over  conscientiousness.  I  picked  up  pins,  and 
went  out  of  my  way  to  kick  orange-peel  frorp 
the  sidewalk,  on  principle. 


12  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

But  apart  from,  or  rather  concurrent  with,  this 
sobriety  of  character  I  was  a  dreamer  in  secret, 
and  delighted  to  give  the  rein  to  fancy.  I  liked 
to  picture  myself  in  some  of  the  romantic  situa 
tions  of  which  I  had  read,  and  to  build  castles 
for  the  future.  But  all  these  imaginations  were 
of  a  realistic  order,  as  distinguished  from  ghosts 
and  fairies  and  other  creations  of  that  class.  I 
was  completely  free  from  superstitions.  It  was 
not  for  luck  that  I  picked  up  pins,  but  that  they 
should  not  be  wasted.  In  like  manner  I  never 
hesitated  to  let  a  horse-shoe  lie  in  the  road,  to 
walk  under  a  ladder,  or  be  one  of  thirteen  at 
table.  And  yet  I  was  distinctly  a  dreamer.  If 
it  was  in  the  way  of  lovers,  my  thoughts  were 
entirely  subjective.  I  knew  no  young  men  ex 
cept  the  boys  at  dancing-school ;  and  they  as  a 
rule  avoided  me,  for  I  was  shy,  and  for  the  pres 
ent  only  moderately  pretty.  I  think  I  tried  in 
my  day-dreams  to  form  an  ideal  of  what  a  lover's 
mental  and  moral  attributes  should  be  without 
ever  endowing  the  abstraction  with  a  head.  I 
found  a  happiness  in  doing  so  much,  —  akin,  I 
fancy,  to  that  of  the  votary  who  kneels  before  a 
shrine  of  which  the  doors  are  closed.  It  was 
the  consciousness  of  a  great  possible  happiness 
that  thrilled  me,  rather  than  any  definite  vision. 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  13 

When  Miss  Jenks  left  us  I  was  a  well  edu 
cated  girl  for  my  age.  What  I  knew  I  knew 
thoroughly,  and  the  wishes  of  both  my  aunts 
had  been  respected.  Perhaps  the  most  striking 
circumstances  connected  with  my  bringing  up, 
however,  were  that  at  eighteen  I  had  -no  idea  I 
was  the  heiress  to  an  enormous  fortune,  and  that 
I  could  pass  young  men  in  the  street  without 
self-consciousness.  Strangely,  too,  I  had  grown 
up  without  having  formed  an  intimacy  with  any 
girls  of  my  own  age.  I  have  never  quite  been 
able  to  decide  whether  the  ability  I  thus  ac 
quired  to  think  for  and  by  myself  was  more 
valuable  than  the  happiness  that  results  from 
such  friendships ;  yet  I  have  never  distinctly 
regretted  not  having  made  a  confidant  among 
my  contemporaries. 


14  ^  ROMANTIC  YOUNG  LADY. 


II. 


"IV/riSS  JENKS  went  away  in  October,  and  a 
few  days  later  Aunt  Helen  broached  the 
subject  of  preparations  for  the  winter.  I  was  to 
go  into  society;  and  she  had  taken  upon  her 
shoulders  the  burden  of  having  me  well-dressed 
and  "  presentable,"  as  she  called  it.  My  clothes 
ordered  from  Paris  were  at  her  house,  and  she 
took  even  more  pleasure  than  I  in  studying 
their  effect  when  tried  on,  and  in  selecting  from 
my  mother's  jewelry  the  most  appropriate  arti 
cles  for  my  toilet.  There  were  certain  trink 
ets  among  them  which  she  told  me  were  all  the 
rage ;  and  she  concluded  with  a  homily  that  I 
was  very  fortunate  to  be  able  to  have  such 
expensive  things  to  wear,  and  that  many  girls 
had  to  be  content  with  two  ball-dresses,  or  in 
some  instances  with  one.  I  was  glad  to  put 
myself  entirely  in  her  hands,  for  I  felt  that  she 
knew  about  such  matters.  My  own  sensations 
were  a  mixture  of  timidity,  bewilderment,  and 
exultation. 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  15 

One  evening  a  short  time  previous  to  the 
beginning  of  the  gay  season  my  father  turned 
to  me  and  said, — 

"  There  is  something  I  wish  to  tell  you,  Vir 
ginia.  I  have  recently  made  my  will.  With  the 
exception  of  a  few  legacies  for  charitable  uses 
and  a  bequest  to  each  of  your  aunts,  I  have  left 
everything  to  you.  Very  likely  it  may  be  a 
surprise  to  you  to  hear  that  you  will  be  very 
rich.  It  is  proper  and  right  you  should  know 
it  now,  just  as  it  was  important  you  should  re 
main  in  ignorance  of  the  fact  during  childhood. 
I  have  requested  hitherto  your  aunts  and  your 
governess  to  make  no  allusions  to  your  future 
prospects.  If  I  am  not  mistaken,  you  learn  the 
truth  from  me  for  the  first  time,," 
,  He  paused  as  if  expecting  an  answer. 

"  Yes,  it  has  never  occurred  to  me  to  inquire 
about  the  future,"  said  I.  "  I  knew  that  we 
lived  in  comfort.  Beyond  that  I  have  not 
thought  on  the  subject." 

"  It  is  as  I  supposed,"  said  my  father.  "  Un 
less  I  see  reason  to  alter  the  present  distribution 
ot  my  property,  you  will  be  one  of  the  richest 
women  in  town.  When  you  were  a  child,  Vir 
ginia,  I  felt  badly  at  times  that  you  were  not 
a  boy ;  I  wanted  a  son  to  inherit  my  name  and 


1 6  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

fortune.  But  one  day  it  occurred  to  me,  that, 
though  a  daughter  could  not  make^money,  she 
might  learn  to  spend  it  as  well  as  a  son.  The 
thought  comforted  me;  for  I  have  made  all 
the  money  we  can  need  for  many  generations 
to  come,  and  my  only  desire  is  that  when  I  am 
gone  there  shall  be  some  one  to  use  it  as  I  would 
like.  There  is  an  idea,  I  know,  that  women  are 
not  fitted  to  comprehend  the  value  of  money, 
and  that  it  is  unwise  to  give  them  the  control  of 
large  sums.  However  correct  that  may  be,  the 
tendency  of  all  modern  legislation  shows  that 
the  world  is  in  favor  of  their  administering 
their  own  affairs.  At  any  rate,  I  propose  to 
make  the  experiment.  Unless  you  convince  me 
beforehand  that  I  am  mistaken,  I  shall  leave 
you  at  my  death  the  mistress  of  over  three 
million  dollars." 

While  I  was  trying  to  form  a  definite  idea  of 
so  much  wealth,  my  father  rose,  and  going  to 
a  side-table  took  up  a  large  tin  box,  on  the  top 
of  which  lay  a  plush-covered  case  and  a  pile 
of  pamphlets. 

"  In  this  trunk,"  he  said,  "  you  will  find  one 
hurfdred  thousand  dollars  in  first-rate  securities, 
registered  in  your  name.  I  want  you  to  learn, 
so  far  as  is  possible  for  a  woman,  the  care  of 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  17 

property.  These  newspapers  and  reports  will 
help  you  somewhat.  I  shall  be  glad  to  answer  all 
your  questions,  and  will  keep  you  supplied  with 
the  latest  intelligence  relating  to  your  property; 
for  I  give  you  these  stocks  and  bonds  to  use  as 
you  see  fit.  You  will  find  a  cheque-book  and 
a  bank-book  inside.  One  must  learn  to  appre 
ciate  the  value  of  money  in  order  to  use  it  well. 
I  would  not  advise  you  to  change  your  invest 
ments  at  first  without  consulting  me.  You  must 
expect  to  make  mistakes  at  the  outset,  but  I 
have  great  confidence  in  your  good  sense.  I 
should  have  been  afraid  to  make  the  experiment 
in  the  case  of  many  girls." 

These  words  of  my  father  brought  the  tears 
to  my  eyes.  He  had  been  watching  me  after 
all,  while  I  sometimes  half  fancied  him  oblivious 
of  my  existence.  At  the  moment,  I  was  too 
confused  to  do  more  than  thank  him  and  gather 
up  in  a  dazed  way  the  pamphlets  he  placed  be 
fore  me.  He  put  the  little  key  that  dangled 
from  the  tin  box  into  the  lock,  and  disclosed  to 
me  the  parchment  securities  within. 

"  Carefully  managed,  that  ought  to  yield  you 
six  per  cent  net,"  said  he. 

"  But  what  am  I  to  do  with  so  much  money 
every  year?"  I  cried  aghast. 


1 8  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

My  father  laughed,  and  said :  "  That  is  for 
you  to  decide,  Virginia.  You  will  learn  only 
too  soon  the  part  that  money  plays  in  the 
world,"  he  added  gravely.  "Prepare  yourself 
to  be  courted  and  flattered  for  its  sake.  Some 
people  would  say,  '  Do  not  destroy  her  faith  in 
human  nature.  She  will  learn  the  truth  soon 
enough.'  I  believe  that  to  be  forewarned  is  to 
be  forearmed.  Good  and  true  men  are  abun 
dant,  but  there  are  unscrupulous  and  mercenary 
ones  as  well,  who  will  woo  you  for  the  sake  of 
your  fortune  and  not  because  they  love  you. 

"  One  word  more,"  said  he,  without  regard  to 
the  expression  of  pain  that  overspread  my  face 
at  his  last  speech.  "  Do  not  be  afraid  to  use 
your  money.  Avoid  foolish  extravagance,  but 
learn  to  enjoy  life  and  the  blessings  at  your  dis 
posal.  It  used  to  be  considered  wrong  by  our 
forefathers  to  surround  themselves  with  beau 
tiful  things,  and  any  but  the  simplest  comforts. 
Some  people  are  of  that  opinion  still,  but  I  do 
not  agree  with  them.  Your  own  good  sense 
will  be  the  best  criterion  of  what  is  unduly  os 
tentatious  ;  but  never  hesitate  to  have  anything 
you  may  wish  because  you  fear  the  verdict  of 
others.  In  short,  be  independent,  and  think  for 
yourself  if  you  wish  to  be  happy.  Your  Aunt 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  1$ 

Helen  has  undertaken  the  charge  of  your  ward 
robe  ;  that  is  something  of  which  I  know  noth 
ing.  I  can  tell  when  a  young  lady  is  well  dressed, 
but  I  am  not  capable  of  selecting  her  dresses. 
Here,  however,"  he  said,  taking  the  plush-cov 
ered  case  from  the  table,  "  is  something  that 
will  make  your  toilet  more  complete." 

I  started  with  delight  on  raising  the  lid,  to 
discover  a  superb  necklace  of  the  largest  pearls. 
Under  the  impulse  of  the  moment  I  flung  my 
arms  about  my  father's  neck  and  kissed  him. 
He  seemed  touched  by  my  impetuosity,  and 
stood  for  a  moment  with  my  head  between  his 
hands  looking  into  my  eyes. 

"  I  believe  you  have  in  you  the  making  of  a 
noble  woman,  my  dear,"  he  said  proudly.  "You 
have  your  mother's  sweet  disposition,  and  also 
I  think  my  fixity  of  purpose." 

I  lay  awake  that  night  for  hours.  It  seemed 
to  me  that  I  had  grown  five  years  older  in  a 
single  day,  and  I  felt  a  new  responsibility  in 
living.  My  father's  trust  and  generosity  had 
stirred  me  deeply,  and  I  made  many  a  solemn 
vow  not  to  prove  unworthy  of  such  confidence. 
But  athwart  the  satisfaction  these  thoughts  in 
spired,  rose  the  recollection  of  what  he  had  said 
regarding  the  insincerity  of  men.  I  had  of 


20  A   ROMANTIC    YOUNG  LADY. 

course  read  in  novels  of  fortune-hunters,  but  no 
suspicion  of  their  existence  within  the  pale  of 
the  polite  society  of  which  I  was  so  soon  to  form 
a  part  had  ever  marred  the  rosy  simplicity  of 
my  imagination.  This  was  my  first  peep  at  the 
world's  wickedness,  and  it  shocked  me  to  think 
that  human  nature  could  be  so  base. 

I  had  seen  but  little  of  my  Aunt  Agnes  during 
the  autumn,  perhaps  because  I  more  than  half 
suspected  she  did  not  sympathize  with  the  plans 
and  preparations  for  my  social  education.  I  re 
membered  some  years  before,  at  the  time  when 
the  question  of  my  attending  dancing-school 
was  being  debated,  to  have  heard  her  express 
disapproval  of  girls  who  frittered  away  their  time 
and  health  in  the  pursuit  of  what  she  called  "vain 
pleasures."  I  had  not  conversed  with  her  on 
the  subject,  but  I  had  obtained  an  intimation 
from  her  short  and  acrid  manner  on  the  one 
or  two  occasions  when  we  had  met  of  late  that 
she  was  quite  aware  of  what  was  going  on,  and 
condemned  it  unequivocally. 

Although  I  knew  that  Aunt  Agnes  was  very 
fond  of  me,  and  I  in  turn  loved  and  respected 
her,  she  was  apt  to  inspire  me  with  awe  even 
on  ordinary  occasions.  Her  character  was  as 
upright  as  her  figure,  which  in  defiance  of  the 


A   ROM  A  XT  rC   YOUNG  LADY.  21 

relaxed  customs  of  the  day  was  always  arrayed 
against  a  straight-backed  chair.  Convention 
alities  of  every  sort  were  an  abomination  to  her. 
Black  silk  was  the  full  extent  of  her  condescen 
sion  in  the  matter  of  what  she  was  pleased  to 
call  Babylonian  attire,  and  she  had  no  patience 
with  the  ordinary  vanities  of  her  sex. 

She  received  me  frostily  when  I  went  to  visit 
her  a  few  days  after  the  conversation  with  my 
father,  and  suffered  me  to  kiss  both  her  cheeks 
in  turn  without  evincing  a  sign  of  being  mollified. 
Remembering  that  she  was  fond  of  directness,  I 
opened  fire  at  once  by  observing  that  I  was  in 
vited  to  a  ball  at  Mrs.  Dale's  a  week  hence. 

"  All  girls  are  fools,"  she  answered  abruptly, 
after  a  moment.  I  bowed  my  head  submissively, 
and  awaited  the  storm. 

"  I  expected  better  things  of  you,  Virginia," 
she  continued.  "  I  hoped  you  were  too  sensible 
to  follow  the  herd,  and  waste  the  best  years  of 
your  life  in  folly." 

"Folly?"  I  echoed  faintly. 

"  Yes,  folly.  What  else  is  it  but  folly  to  sit 
up  night  after  night,  until  the  small  hours  of  the 
morning,  waltzing  with  brainless  young  men?" 

"  But,  Aunty,  my  father  wishes  me  to  go  into 
society." 


22  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

"  Pshaw  !  What  does  he  know  about  balls  and 
parties?  He  is  under  the  thumb  of  your  Aunt 
Helen.  At  your  age  he  was  working  hard  for  his 
living,  and  learning  to  be  of  use  in  the  world." 

"But  I  have  not  to  earn  my  living,"  said  I. 

"  So  much  the  worse  for  you.  Humph  ! 
You  have  found  that  out,  have  you?" 

I  understood  that  she  referred  to  what  my 
father  had  told  me.  "Yes,  I  know  my  father  is 
very  rich.  If  I  do  not  go  to  parties,  how  am 
I  to  learn  anything  about  life?" 

"  Life  !  You  are  very  simple,  child,  if  you  ex 
pect  to  learn  what  life  is  by  dancing  the  German. 
The  first  thing  we  shall  hear  is,  that  you  are 
engaged  to  some  young  dandy  who  is  after  your 
fortune.  Then  you  will  be  snuffed  out  You 
will  become  a  fashionable  simpleton,  who  goes 
to  bed  at  four  and  gets  up  at  noon.  Life, 
indeed !  " 

This  cruel  insinuation,  following  so  soon  up 
on  what  I  had  lately  heard,  cut  like  a  knife. 
I  answered  firmly, — 

"  My  father  has  already  warned  me  to  be  on 
my  guard  against  insincere  persons/' 

"  Much  good  a  warning  would  do,  if  you 
were  to  take  it  into  your  head  to  like  anybody ! 
Tell  me!  I  may  not  understand  girls"  (this  was 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  23 

a  thrust  at  Aunt  Helen),  "  but  I  know  the  dispo 
sitions  of  my  own  family.  When  a  Harlan  gets 
a  fixed  idea,  it  takes  a  deal  of  pounding  to  drive 
it  out;  and  you're  a  Harlan,  Virginia,  if  there 
ever  was  one." 

This  last  reflection  seemed  to  console  her 
a  little,  or  at  least  to  suggest  the  futility  of 
trying  to  alter  my  determination ;  for  after 
speaking  of  other  matters  for  a  few  moments 
she  exclaimed, — 

"  Well !  girls  will  be  girls,  I  suppose,  to  the  end 
of  time,"  —  and  rising  she  went  to  an  escritoire 
and  took  out  a  small  parcel,  which  it  was  evi 
dent  she  had  intended  to  present  to  me  from 
the  first.  "  There,  Virginia,  if  you  are  bent  on 
being  frivolous,  is  a  bit  of  old  lace  that  your 
Aunt  Helen,  or  anybody  else,  would  have  to 
hunt  a  long  time  to  equal.  You  will  find  a 
locket  inside  which  I  wore  when  your  father 
was  married.  I  shall  never  use  such  frippery 
again,  and  you  might  as  well  have  them  now 
as  when  I  am  dead." 

Knowing  that  she  meant  to  be  gracious,  I 
thanked  her  warmly.  But  having  doubts  re 
garding  her  taste,  I  abstained  from  opening  the 
package  until  I  reached  home.  Then  I  found 
that  the  lace  even  surpassed  in  exquisiteness 


24  A   ROMANTIC    YOUNG  LADY. 

the  estimate  Aunt  Agnes  had  put  upon  it. 
Aunt  Helen  was  fairly  envious,  and  spent  the 
evening  in  wondering  "  where  on  earth "  her 
rival  could  have  come  into  possession  of  such 
a  treasure. 

But  the  locket  —  a  cameo,  bizarre,  and  out 
of  the  run  of  ordinary  personal  ornaments  — 
excited  her  contempt. 

"  It  is  fit  for  a  woman  of  forty,  and  would 
make  you  look  like  a  guy,  Virginia." 

The  idea  of  looking  different  from  other  peo 
ple  did  not  disturb  me.  Indeed,  I  had  resolved 
to  be  thoroughly  independent.  So,  on  the  eve 
ning  of  Mrs.  Dale's  ball,  I  announced  my  inten 
tion  of  wearing  the  locket,  and  of  reserving  my 
necklace  of  pearls  for  some  more  brilliant  occa 
sion.  Aunt  Helen,  who  supervised  my  toilet, 
was  greatly  distressed  at  my  obstinacy.  Never 
theless  I  left  the  house  with  it  on.  But  at  the 
last  moment  my  courage  failed  me;  I  slipped 
it  off  and  put  it  in  my  pocket, — thus  making  a 
courtesy  to  conventionality  on  the  threshold  of 
society. 


A  ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  2$ 


III. 

TV  yTY  recollections  of  the  first  few  parties  I 
attended  are  confused.  A  great  many 
young  men  were  introduced  to  me,  but  I 
scarcely  distinguished  one  from  another.  I 
was  alternately  dazed  and  dazzled  by  the  atten 
tions  I  received.  There  is  no  object  in  disguis 
ing  the  fact  that  I  had  become  very  handsome, 
and  my  brilliant  financial  prospects  were  of 
course  well  known. 

My  emotions  were  doubtless  those  of  an  av 
erage  society  belle,  eager  to  drain  the  cup  of 
pleasure  to  the  dregs.  I  lived  to  dance,  and 
cared  little  with  whom  I  danced,  provided  he 
danced  well.  The  mere  physical  satisfaction  of 
waltzing,  coupled  with  the  glamor  of  a  universal 
homage,  contented  me. 

But  this  did  not  last  long.  I  learned  to  make 
distinctions,  and  to  generalize ;  and  from  this 
primary  stage  of  development  I  began  to  en 
tertain  positive  likes  and  dislikes. 

It  was  not  however  until  the  winter  was  wan 
ing  that  Mr.  Roger  Dale  occupied  a  different 


26  A   ROMANTIC  YOUNG  LADY. 

place  in  my  thoughts  from  half-a-dozen  others, 
although  he  had  been  polite  to  me  from  the 
time  of  my  first  ball  at  his  mother's  house.  It 
would  be  difficult  to  say  exactly  what  distin 
guished  him  from  the  rest  of  their  admirers  in 
the  eyes  of  every  girl  with  any  pretensions  to 
beauty  or  style ;  but  he  was  undeniably  consid 
ered  at  that  time,  in  the  circle  of  my  acquaint 
ance,  as  the  most  fascinating  man  in  society. 
He  was  commonly  spoken  of  as  interesting,  and 
there  was  a  vague  impression  that  he  was  lack 
ing  in  constancy.  It  was  not  unnatural  therefore 
that  I  should  be  flattered  at  his  singling  me  out 
for  assiduous  attentions,  especially  when  he  pos 
sessed  the  art  of  letting  me  understand  in  a 
quiet,  gentlemanly  fashion,  and  without  the  aid 
of  garish  compliments,  that  I  was  the  only  girl 
in  the  room  for  whom  he  cared  a  straw.  I  did 
not  believe  him,  but  I  was  pleased,  for  that  was 
the  way  in  which  I  wished  to  be  wooed  by  the 
one  whom  I  wished  to  believe. 

So  in  course  of  time  I  became  willing  to  retire 
with  him  into  conservatories  and  ante-rooms  to 
avoid  interruption.  I  was  still  fond  of  dancing, 
but  I  had  recovered  from  the  frenzy  which 
blinded  me  to  everything  but  the  rapture  of  the 
moment.  I  liked  to  hear  Mr.  Dale  talk,  and 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  27 

without  an  affinity  of  ideas  our  intimacy  must 
have  died  a  natural  death.  But  we  found  a  com 
mon  ground  of  sympathy  in  our  revolt  against 
the  subserviency  in  modern  life  of  romance  to 
matter-of-fact  considerations.  He  harped  upon 
this  string,  and  awoke  a  corresponding  chord 
in  my  breast.  His  ideas  were  a  correlation  of 
the  dreams  of  my  girlhood.  I  felt  that  I  was 
understood.  There  was  such  a  thing  as  the  love 
I  had  imagined ;  Mr.  Dale  had  pondered  over 
it,  fathomed  it,  and  could  talk  about  it.  Not 
that  I  considered  myself  in  love  with  him,  or 
him  with  me.  We  simply  were  friends,  —  that 
was  all.  But  existence  seemed  nobler  when 
illumined  by  his  theories. 

He  declared  that  the  Puritan  fathers  and  their 
descendants  lacked  the  power  of  expression. 
People  were  afraid  to  acknowledge  they  loved. 
The  ardor  that  distinguished  the  passion  of 
other  races  and  made  it  beautiful  was  nowhere 
to  be  found,  for  if  it  ever  dared  to  manifest 
itself  the  breath  of  ridicule  wilted  its  growth. 
The  expensive  "  floral  offering  "  was  more 
prized  than  the  single  dewy  bud  of  the  true 
lover,  and  the  zeal  and  sentiment  of  chivalry 
had  yielded  to  the  blighting  prose  of  a  com 
mercial  age. 


28  A    ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

My  Aunt  Helen  was  the  first  of  the  family  to 
comment  on  my  intimacy  with  him. 

"What  does  your  friend  Mr.  Dale  do?"  she 
asked  one  day. 

"Do?" 

"  Yes.  I  mean  what  is  his  business  down 
town?  " 

"  I  don't  know,  Aunt  Helen,"  I  answered ; 
and  I  spoke  the  truth.  I  had  never  thought  to 
inquire. 

"  The  Dale  blood  is  not  the  very  best  in  the 
world,"  she  continued  presently,  with  her  head 
bent  over  her  work  almost  as  though  solilo 
quizing.  "  As  regards  position  they  are  well 
enough,  but  two  of  this  young  man's  uncles 
were  extremely  dissipated,  and  I  fancy  that  the 
father  was  not  much  to  boast  of.  He  died 
early,  just  after  I  was  grown  up.  I  remember 
him  though.  He  was  a  handsome  creature." 

I  listened  with  glowing  cheeks,  but  made  no 
response. 

"  They  have  very  little  to  live  on  I  imagine," 
she  observed  nearly  five  minutes  later. 

"  Of  whom  are  you  speaking?"  I  inquired 
with  dignity. 

"  The  Dales,  child,  of  course.  It  was  gen 
erally  supposed  that  Mrs.  Dale  "was  left  very 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  29 

poorly  off.  I  believe  her  husband's  life  was  in 
sured  for  something,  and  they  own  their  house. 
Pussy  always  looks  well  dressed,  but  they  must 
have  to  scrimp  in  other  ways." 

Pussy  Dale  was  Roger's  eldest  sister,  a  girl 
of  just  my  age.  They  were  a  family  of  five, 
four  of  whom  were  daughters. 

"  I  don't  see  that  their  being  poor  is  anything 
against  them,"  I  said  a  little  hotly. 

"  Xo-o,"  replied  Aunt  Helen  reflectively,  "  per 
haps  not.  But  I  don't  know  what  your  father 
would  say  to  him  for  a  son-in-law." 

"A  son-in-law?  You  have  no  right  to  make 
such  insinuations,  Aunt  Helen,"  I  protested. 
"  Mr.  Dale  and  I  are  friends,  and  nothing 
more." 

"I  am  glad  to  hear  it,  dear;  for  though  I 
should  try  to  reconcile  myself  to  whomever  you 
chose,  believing  that  a  girl  is  the  best  judge  of 
what  will  contribute  to  her  own  happiness,  I 
own  frankly  that  I  should  be  better  pleased 
with  some  one  whose  antecedents  were  a  little 
more  creditable." 

I  gritted  my  teeth  and  sewed  industriously  in 
silence  for  the  rest  of  the  evening.  I  felt  in 
jured,  without  scarcely  knowing  why.  Aunt 
Helen's  accusations  were  vague  at  best.  It  was 


30  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

impossible  for  me  to  doubt  Mr.  Dale.  But  on 
the  other  hand  the  idea  of  our  marriage  was  not 
a  serious  consideration.  Still  I  felt  annoyed 
and  troubled,  and  I  could  not  help  thinking  of 
what  my  father  and  Aunt  Agnes  had  said  by  way 
of  warning.  But  though  I  lay  awake  long  that 
night  I  fell  asleep  at  last,  convinced  that  Roger 
Dale  was  the  noblest  and  sincerest  soul  alive, 
and  that  to  doubt  him  would  be  to  wrong  the 
sacred  name  of  friendship. 

This  conversation  took  place  in  March;  but 
in  the  next  two  months  Mr.  Dale  was  so  much 
at  our  house  that  I  was  not  surprised  when  my 
father  asked  one  evening  the  same  question  put 
to  me  by  Aunt  Helen.  Our  intimacy  had  con 
tinued  without  further  developments,  except  a 
constantly  increasing  devotion  on  his  part  and 
a  corresponding  pleasure  in  his  society  on  my 
own.  I  did  not  make  my  infatuation  conspic 
uous  by  walking  with  him  in  the  streets,  but 
otherwise  I  did  not  attempt  to  disguise  the 
partiality  I  felt  for  him.  Had  I  mixed  more 
with  other  girls  before  entering  society  I  might 
have  been  less  guileless.  But  as  it  was,  I  never 
thought  of  tempering  by  coquetry  the  satis 
faction  visible  in  my  face  whenever  Mr.  Dale 
appeared. 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  31 

This  time  I  was  prepared  with  an  answer  to 
the  question  concerning  his  occupation  down 
town :  — 

"  He  is  in  the  wool  business,  and  doing  very 
well." 

"A  wool  broker?" 

"  I  think  so." 

"  Humph !  " 

My  father  walked  up  and  down  the  room  a 
few  times.  "  I  have  already  cautioned  you, 
Virginia,  against  false  prophets  who  come  to 
you  in  sheep's  clothing." 

He  was  jocose  doubtless  so  as  to  pass  the  mat 
ter  off  lightly,  and  to  spare  my  feelings.  But  I 
chose  to  be  offended,  and  answered  haughtily, — 

"  I  don't  understand  what  you  mean." 

He  stood  still  and  looked  directly  at  me. 
"  Simply  this,  Virginia:  I  trust  you  are  too  sen 
sible  to  throw  yourself  away  on  a  man  who  is 
not  worthy  of  you." 

"  You  do  Mr.  Dale  a  great  injustice,"  I  re 
plied,  with  an  assumption  of  dignity ;  "  and  me 
too."  Whereupon  I  swept  out  of  the  room. 

I  flung  myself  upon  my  bed  and  burst  into 
tears.  These  remarks  of  my  father  and  aunt 
were  straws,  but  they  showed  me  how  the  wind 
was  likely  to  blow.  Those  upon  whom  I  had  a 


32  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

right  to  rely  for  sympathy  were  ready  to  desert 
me  first  of  all.  It  was  cruel  and  unkind.  Had 
I  asked  to  be  allowed  to  marry  Mr.  Dale?  Had 
either  of  us  ever  hinted  at  the  subject?  Never  ! 
And  yet  my  father  was  the  first  to  cast  suspi 
cions  and  make  insinuations,  for  I  understood 
his  unjust  taunt.  Sheep's  clothing,  indeed  !  De 
traction  was  the  surest  way  to  make  me  love  him ; 
for  if  there  was  any  one  under  the  sun  whose 
sentiments  were  noble  and  unselfish,  whose  mo 
tives  were  manly  and  disinterested,  I  believed  it 
was  Roger  Dale.  Why  had  my  father  spoken 
in  such  high  terms  of  my  good  sense  only  six 
months  ago  if  he  thought  it  necessary  to  caution 
me  again  to-day?  I  felt  bitter  and  wronged. 

Just  then  my  glance  chanced  to  fall  on  the 
tin  box  in  which  were  the  securities  my  father 
had  given  me  in  the  autumn,  and  I  blushed  as  I 
reflected  that  except  to  deposit  the  dividends 
that  were  sent  to  me  I  had  done  nothing 
toward  understanding  the  care  of  my  property. 
I  had  used  the  cheque-book  to  give  a  little 
money  in  charity  and  to  pay  some  bills,  but  the 
pile  of  financial  pamphlets  lay  on  the  shelf  of 
my  desk  still  unread.  I  had  not  had  time  to 
devote  myself  to  them,  or  rather  the  time  had 
slipped  away  before  I  realized  it. 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  33 

There  was  some  ground  after  all  for  my  fa 
ther's  reproof.  It  was  possible  that  my  neg 
lect  and  apparent  disregard  of  his  wishes  had 
led  him  to  speak  severely  of  Mr.  Dale.  The 
thought  comforted  me  and  brought  sleep  to  my 
eyes.  I  rose  early,  and  spent  an  hour  before 
breakfast  in  reading  the  Annual  Report  of  one 
of  the  Railway  Companies  in  which  I  held  stock  ; 
and  I  went  downstairs  with  a  confused  mind, 
but  with  a  sense  of  awakened  virtue.  I  was 
cheerful  and  animated  at  table,  and  asked  sev 
eral  questions  concerning  mortgage  bonds  and 
sinking  funds  that  brought  a  pleasant  expression 
to  my  father's  face. 

The  reason  why  I  felt  so  buoyant  was  not 
merely  the  light-heartedness  of  repentance.  My 
romantic  spirit  had  conceived  a  scheme  for  con 
vincing  my  father  that  he  had  unjustly  sneered 
at  Mr.  Dale's  business  capacity.  I  was  resolved 
to  consult  him  as  to  my  investments,  and  I  felt 
sure  that  the  profits  accruing  from  his  sage  ad 
vice  would  plead  his  cause  more  eloquently 
than  any  words  of  mine.  Let  but  my  father 
perceive  my  admirer's  sterling  qualities,  and  I 
knew  that  he  would  be  eager  to  make  amends 
for  his  injustice  by  pushing  him  forward  in 
business.  The  idea  took  strong  possession  of 
3 


34  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

me,  for  ever  since  hearing  Aunt  Helen  speak  of 
Mr.  Dale's  lack  of  means  I  had  been  eager  at 
heart  to  assist  him.  I  would  gladly  have  asked 
him  to  put  my  money  into  some  commercial 
venture,  and  have  insisted  upon  his  keeping 
a  portion  of  the  gains;  but  to  that  I  felt  he 
would  never  consent. 

And  yet  I  did  not  believe  that  I  was  in  love 
with  Roger  Dale.  The  thought  never  occurred 
to  me.  I  was  ready  to  have  our  relations  con 
tinue  indefinitely  as  they  were.  But  I  was  not 
able  to  regard  the  hostility  of  my  family  without 
impatience  that  added  a  spice  of  martyrdom 
to  my  interviews  with  him.  The  very  fact  that 
others  thought  ill  made  it  all  the  more  incum 
bent  upon  me  to  be  steadfast  and  undoubting. 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  35 


IV. 


"D  EFORE  I  had  an  opportunity  to  broach  the 
^-^  question  of  investments  to  Mr.  Dale,  Aunt 
Agnes  added  her  quota  to  my  sense  of  wrong. 
One  evening  when  she  came  to  dinner  I  divined, 
from  the  intense  rigidity  of  her  posture  at  table, 
that  she  was  offended  with  me.  To  tell  the  truth, 
I  felt  a  trifle  guilty.  My  visits  to  her  during  the 
winter  had  been  spasmodic  and  hurried.  What 
was  worse,  so  greatly  was  I  carried  away  by  my 
social  success,  that  whenever  we  did  meet  I  prat 
tled  on  about  fashionable  frivolities  regardless  of 
her  frown.  But  though  I  was  conscious  of  not 
standing  in  her  good  graces,  I  felt  tolerably  se 
cure  from  comments  on  the  score  of  Mr.  Dale, 
for  the  reason  that  as  she  never  went  anywhere 
she  would  know  nothing  of  my  intimacy  with  him 
unless  Aunt  Helen  or  my  father  were  to  make 
her  a  confidant;  and  this  I  did  not  think  likely. 
Therefore,  when  she  introduced  the  subject 
while  we  were  alone  together  in  the  dra\ving- 
room  after  dinner,  I  was  a  little  disconcerted. 


36  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

"  Who  is  this  Mr.  Gale  whose  name  I  see 
connected  with  yours?  "  she  asked  severely. 

"With  mine?" 

"  Yes,  with  yours.  Don't  beat  about  the 
bush !  You  know  perfectly  well  whom  I 
mean." 

"  Excuse  me,  Aunt  Agnes,  there  is  no  Mr. 
Gale  among  my  acquaintance.  I  know  a  Mr. 
Dale." 

She  frowned,  and  began  to  fumble  in  her 
pocket.  "  The  principle  is  the  same  whether  it  is 
Gale  or  Dale  or  Tompkins.  I  never  expected  to 
learn  of  my  niece's  engagement  from  the  public 
press.  I  am  confident  the  notice  said  '  Gale.' 
Ah !  I  thought  so.  Plain  as  the  nose  on  your 
face,"  she  added,  producing  from  her  porte- 
monnaie  a  newspaper  cutting  and  reading  aloud : 
"  '  It  is  rumored  that  the  engagement  of  the 
beautiful  and  accomplished  daughter  of  Augus 
tus  Harlan,  the  Railway  Magnate,  to  Mr.  Roger 
Gale  of  this  city  will  soon  be  announced.'  " 

"  It  is  not  true,  Aunt  Agnes,"  I  cried  indig 
nantly.  Needless  to  say  I  was  startled  at  this 
bit  of  information,  coming  too  as  it  did  from 
such  an  unexpected  source.  My  aunt's  knowl 
edge  of  it  seemed  fully  as  remarkable  to  me  as 
the  fact  of  the  publication. 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  37 

"  I  trust  not,"  she  replied  with  emphasis.  "  I 
did  not  seriously  suppose  my  own  niece  so  far 
lost  to  all  sense  of  propriety  as  to  take  such  a 
step  unbeknown  to  me.  But  it  seems  to  me, 
Virginia,  you  must  have  been  behaving  in  a,  to 
say  the  least,  very  peculiar  manner,  to  get  your 
name  into  the  newspapers.  Where  there  is  so 
much  smoke  there  is  apt  to  be  a  little  fire. 
Who  is  this  Mr.  Gale?" 

"  His  name  is  Dale,  Aunt  Agnes." 

"  Well,  Dale  then.  You  won't  put  me  off  by 
quibbling.  If  you  want  your  father  to  know  of 
it,  you  are  taking  just  the  course  to  make  me 
tell  him." 

"  My  father  knows  all  there  is  to  know.  Mr. 
Dale  is  a  friend  of  mine  and  comes  to  the  house 
by  permission.  There  is  no  possibility  of  an 
engagement  between  us." 

"  An  engagement !  I  should  hope  not.  Do 
you  consider  yourself  qualified  to  enter  upon 
the  cares  and  responsibilities  of  married  life?  " 

"  I  have  already  said  that  I  have  no  intention 
of  getting  married." 

"  Getting  married  !  Why,  the  child  is  crazy. 
You  talk  of  matrimony  as  if  it  were  as  simple  a 
proceeding  as  changing  your  dress  or  going  to 
a  party." 


38  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

"  Some  people  would  appear  to  find  it  so," 
I  answered,  goaded  to  impertinence. 

But  Aunt  Agnes  apparently  did  not  perceive 
my  innuendo.  "  I  dare  say,"  said  she  with  as 
perity.  "  That  is  because  there  are  so  many 
fools  in  the  world." 

We  sat  in  silence  for  some  minutes.  My 
aunt  was  so  much  excited  that  I  could  see  her 
hands  tremble  as  she  put  the  obnoxious  cutting 
back  into  her  porte-monnaie.  All  of  a  sudden 
she  looked  at  me  over  her  glasses  and  said,  — 

"  I  am  willing  to  give  you  one  more  chance, 
Virginia." 

I  waited  for  her  to  continue. 

"  If  you  choose  to  take  advantage  of  it,  well 
and  good.  If  not,  you  must  go  your  own  ways. 
I  am  not  going  to  make  my  life  a  burden  over 
you  any  longer.  If  you  prefer  to  be  giddy  and 
foolish,  let  those  take  the  responsibility  who 
have  encouraged  you  to  become  so.  No  one 
shall  blame  me." 

"  You  know,  Aunt  Agnes,  I  wish  to  be  nothing 
of  the  sort." 

"  Very  well,  then.  I  propose  to  pass  the  sum 
mer  in  Europe,  and  it  strikes  me  as  an  excellent 
opportunity  for  you  to  cut  adrift  from  the  ob 
jectionable  associations  you  have  formed  during 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  39 

the  past  few  months.  With  a  fresh  start,  and 
surroundings  calculated  to  inspire  in  you  a 
desire  for  self-improvement,  it  will  not  be  too 
late  to  hope  for  better  things.  I  have  every 
confidence  in  the  natural  stability  of  your  char 
acter  if  you  are  once  put  upon  the  right  track. 
I  blame  your  advisers  more  than  I  blame  you." 

I  listened  to  her  words  with  some  disquie 
tude.  I  had  never  crossed  the  Atlantic,  and  at 
any  ordinary  time  would  have  jumped  at  the 
chance.  But  I  had  already  other  plans  in  store 
for  the  summer  that  I  did  not  feel  prepared  to 
relinquish,  even  for  the  pleasure  of  a  trip  to 
Europe. 

"  It  is  very  kind  of  you  to  think  of  me,"  I 
said. 

"No,  it  isn't.  It's  only  natural,"  she  an 
swered  shortly.  "  You  are  my  brother's  child, 
and  let  alone  any  affection  I  may  have  for  you, 
it  is  my  duty  to  save  you  from  harm  if  I  can." 

"Who  else  is  going?"  I  asked  out  of  sheer 
cowardice ;  for  I  had  already  made  up  my  mind 
to  decline  the  invitation. 

"Who  else?  Nobody.  If  a  woman  at  my  age 
has  not  learned  to  travel  without  an  escort,  it  is 
time  she  did.  I  suppose  that's  what  you're 
driving  at.  Well,  what  do  you  say?  Go,  or 


40  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

remain  at  home  as  you  like.     Only  I  shall  re 
gard  it  as  a  choice  once  and  for  all." 

"  Aunt  Agnes,"  I  answered  with  an  endeavor 
to  express  in  my  tone  and  manner  the  affection 
and  gratitude  I  felt,  "  I  thank  you  with  all  my 
heart  for  your  kindness.  Whatever  you  may 
say,  it  was  extremely  kind  of  you  to  offer  to 
take  me  abroad  with  you,  and  I  wish  I  could 
go." 

"What  is  there  to  prevent  your  going?"  she 
inquired  sharply. 

I  hesitated  an  instant,  and  then  boldly  spoke 
the  truth,  though  I  knew  it  would  operate  like 
a  two-edged  sword  :  — 

"  I  have  already  promised  to  spend  the  sum 
mer  at  Tinker's  Reach  with  Aunt  Helen,  and 
she  would  be  disappointed  if  I  failed  her  at  the 
last  moment,  for  all  her  plans  are  made  on  that 
understanding." 

"Ah!  That  is  it,"  she  replied  with  bitter 
calmness.1  "  Very  well,  I  disclaim  all  further 
responsibility.  You  act  with  your  eyes  open, 
and  must  take  the  consequences." 

There  was  so  much  pain  and  concern  in  her 
expression  that  for  an  instant  I  hesitated,  and 
thought  of  changing  my  mind.  I  went  to  her 
and  knelt  down  beside  her  chair. 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  41 

"  Aunt  Agnes,  you  must  not  talk  so.  I  love 
you  as  dearly  as  I  love  Aunt  Helen  ;  and  if  I  had 
not  promised  to  spend  the  summer  with  her  I 
should  be  delighted  to  go  with  you.  Do  not 
repulse  me.  I  have  so  few  relatives  to  care  for 
me,  and  I  shall  be  very  unhappy  if  you  go  away 
angry." 

But  she  refused  to  be  mollified.  She  did  not 
scold  me,  and  she  coldly  suffered  me  to  embrace 
her  at  parting ;  but  her  air  was  more  grim  than 
I  had  ever  seen  it,  and  I  was  conscious  of 
having  wounded  her  deeply. 

Perhaps  it  is  needless  to  say  that  Mr.  Dale 
was  at  the  bottom  of  my  decision.  A  few  weeks 
previous  I  had  confided  to  him  that  Aunt  Helen 
had  invited  me  to  spend  the  summer  with  her 
at  her  new  cottage  at  Tinker's  Reach.  He  as 
sured  me  that  there  were  few  more  charming 
spots,  that  it  was  a  favorite  resort  of  his  own,  and 
that  he  himself  proposed  to  pass  his  vacation 
there.  Naturally,  I  felt  bound  to  a  certain  ex 
tent  after  this  to  go  to  Tinker's  Reach.  Indeed, 
I  was  eagerly  looking  forward  to  a  continuance 
of  our  friendship  under  such  happy  auspices. 

When  I  had  spoken  to  Mr.  Dale  regarding 
his  business  he  replied,  as  I  have  already  stated, 
that  it  was  "wool."  But  I  noticed  he  was  brief, 


42  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

and  his  manner  did  not  encourage  me  to  ask 
further  questions.  I  ascribed  his  reserve  to 
modesty,  or  the  proper  reluctance  some  people 
have  to  talk  of  private  affairs  that  in  no  way 
concern  the  interrogator.  This  impression  was 
heightened  by  the  investigations  which  I  quietly 
made  in  regard  to  the  point,  feeling  that 
though  I  could  not  admit  the  possibility  of  a 
doubt  even  in  regard  to  his  business  sagacity, 
it  was  well  to  have  evidence  with  which  to  rebut 
the  insinuations  of  my  family.  Every  one  of 
the  young  men  whom  I  questioned  regarding 
Mr.  Dale's  prospects  assured  me  that  he  was 
doing  very  well,  and  attended  his  office  daily. 

This  was  pleasant  tidings,  and  encouraged  me 
to  speak  to  him  of  the  matter  I  had  at  heart. 
With  all  my  tendency  to  romance  and  indiffer 
ence  to  the  opinion  of  others,  I  realized  that  it 
must  be  delicately  handled.  I  must  not  seem  to 
offer  a  gift  or  to  place  him  under  an  obligation. 
Accordingly,  one  day  shortly  before  we  left  town, 
I  explained  to  him  the  condition  of  my  affairs ; 
how  my  father  had  settled  a  sum  upon  me  with 
the  request  that  I  should  manage  it  intelligent 
ly,  with  a  view  to  having  the  control  of  larger 
am&unts  later.  I  said  further  that  I  was  anxious 
to  learn,  and  to  acquit  myself  with  credit ;  and 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  43 

that  it  had  struck  me  as  a  brilliant  scheme  to 
double  my  property  (I  fixed  upon  this  as  a  rea 
sonable  estimate)  by  some  investment.  He  list 
ened  to  my  words  with  close  attention,  and  as  he 
made  no  comment  at  this  point  I  said :  — 

"  You  are  down  town,  Mr.  Dale,  and  must 
necessarily  understand  business  matters.  I  come 
to  you  for  advice.  I  want  you  to  tell  me  what 
to  buy.  I  will  give  you  the  money,  and  when  you 
think  it  time  to  sell  I  will  authorize  you  to  do  so. 
You  see  I  am  not  entirely  ignorant  myself." 

Roger  Dale  gave  a  short  laugh,  and  made  no 
response  for  a  moment.  "  It  wouldn't  do," 
he  said  at  last,  shaking  his  head.  "What  would 
your  father  say  if  he  heard  of  it?  He  doesn't 
have  any  too  high  an  opinion  of  me  already, 
I  fancy." 

"  But,  Mr.  Dale,  that  would  be  the  very  way 
to  prove  to  him  that  you  are  a  practical  business 
man.  If  my  father  were  to  take  you  into  his 
confidence  he  could  push  you  ahead  very  fast, 
I  know.  I  will  show  him  the  profits  of  your 
investments,  and  bestow  the  credit  where  it 
belongs." 

The  idea  seemed  to  amuse  him,  for  he  laughed 
again.  "  You  seem  to  forget,  Miss  Harlan,  that 
instead  of  profits  you  might  lose  it  all." 


44  A   ROMANTIC    YOUNG  LADY. 

"That  would  be  impossible.  I  have  too  much 
confidence  in  your  judgment  to  fear  any  such 
result,"  I  answered  sweetly,  led  away  by  the 
eagerness  I  felt  to  obtain  his  consent  to  the 
project. 

He  gave  me  a  swift  sidelong  glance  that 
made  me  tremble  and  set  my  heart  fluttering, 
though  I  did  not  know  wrhy. 

"  Besides,"  I  said  speaking  fast  and  feverishly, 
"the  money  is  mine.  I  have  a  right  to  do 
what  I  please  with  it." 

There  was  a  pause,  and  then  he  said  with 
the  same  glance,  only  longer  and  intenser  than 
before :  "  Miss  Harlan,  I  cannot  accept  such 
a  responsibility  unless  you  give  it  to  me  for 
ever." 

I  was  stunned.  I  had  brought  this  upon  my 
self  I  could  see  plainly,  now  that  it  was  too 
late.  My  undignified,  unfeminine  conduct  stood 
out  before  me  the  moment  he  had  spoken,  in 
all  its  mortifying  nakedness.  He  had  mistaken 
my  meaning,  but  it  was  I  who  was  to  blame  for 
the  error.  Humiliated  and  confused,  I  was  at  a 
loss  for  words ;  but  a  reply  was  necessary. 

"  You  have  misunderstood  me  entirely,  Mr. 
Dale.  Let  us  change  the  subject,  if  you  please," 
I  said  with  dignity. 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  45 

Fortunately  some  one  came  in  just  at  this  mo 
ment,  and  Mr.  Dale  shortly  rose  to  go.  But  he 
dared  in  taking  leave  to  look  at  me  again  in  the 
manner  I  have  described,  and  in  spite  of  my 
will  and  desire  my  eyes  fell  as  they  encountered 
his. 

We  did  not  meet  again,  much  to  my  relief, 
before  I  left  town.  I  was  in  an  harassing  state 
of  mind,  and  happiness  alternated  in  my 
thoughts  with  despair.  For  a  terrible  secret 
had  dawned  upon  me,  —  terrible,  because  I 
foresaw  the  painful  consequences  which  would 
result  therefrom.  I  loved  Roger  Dale.  It  was 
useless  to  disguise  it  longer  from  myself.  His 
words  had  made  the  truth  manifest,  and  that 
which  I  fancied  friendship  was  become  a  mutual 
passion.  Any  mortification  I  may  have  felt  at 
having  unwittingly  prompted  the  speech  that 
had  filled  my  heart  with  joy  was  nullified  by 
the  consciousness  that  I  was  beloved. 

But  the  thought  of  braving  the  opposition  of 
my  family  distressed  me  beyond  measure,  as  it 
must  needs  distress  any  conscientious  girl  in  a 
similar  position.  My  instincts  told  me  that  it 
was  vain  to  hope  that  they  would  relent.  Their 
objections  were  baseless,  but  none  the  less  I 
knew  that  they  would  prove  insuperable.  I 


46  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

found  myself  face  to  face  with  a  dilemma 
fraught  with  unhappiness  whichever  way  I 
should  solve  it.  What  was  there  to  allege 
against  Mr.  Dale?  Nothing.  He  was  poor. 
But  what  of  that?  My  father  had  money 
enough  for  us  both.  Why  need  he  mar  by 
cruel  suspicions  and  prejudices  this  great  joy 
of  my  life?  I  remember  to  have  wondered 
sometimes  that  girls  could  marry  contrary  to 
the  consent  of  their  parents,  but  it  seemed  to 
me  now  that  no  one  could  sacrifice  an  attach 
ment  as  strong  as  mine  to  blind  authority  with 
out  doing  wrong  to  the  eternal  principles  of  love 
and  honor.  I  vowed  in  secret  that  if  Roger  Dale 
should  prove  as  true  to  me  as  I  would  be  to  him, 
nothing  should  keep  us  apart. 


A   ROMANTIC  YOUNG  LADY.  47 


V. 


'TINKER'S  REACH,  as  most  people  know, 
is  a  very  popular  summer  resort  on  the 
Atlantic  sea-coast.  It  possesses  the  advantages 
both  of  the  ocean  and  the  country.  There  are 
beautiful  drives  in  its  vicinity  variegated  by 
mountain  peaks,  ponds  almost  large  enough  to 
be  classed  as  lakes,  and  extensive  woods  where 
one  —  or  more  readily  two  —  may  be  lost  with 
ease.  On  the  other  hand  the  harbor  is  adapted 
to  all  sorts  of  craft,  from  the  two  hundred  ton 
yacht  to  the  bark  canoe ;  and  for  those  who  pre 
fer  looking  at  the  waves  to  riding  over  them, 
there  are  superb  rocks  to  sit  upon  and  clam 
ber  over,  which  abound  in  eyries  for  the  retiring 
and  caves  for  the  curious.  Altogether  it  is  a 
delightful  place. 

It  takes  its  name,  not  as  might  be  supposed 
from  one  of  the  aborigines,  but  from  a  small 
variety  of  mackerel  known  to  fishermen  as 
"  tinkers,"  which  used  to  be  seined  off  the  main 
head-land  in  large  quantities.  Originally  a 


48  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

primitive  settlement,  fashionable  patronage  had 
dotted  the  shore  with  large  hotels  and  showy 
villas,  which  at  this  period  were  less  numerous 
than  at  present. 

Soon  after  my  arrival  I  received  a  note  from 
Mr.  Dale  announcing  that  he  would  be  able  to 
get  away  from  the  city  by  the  end  of  the  week. 
The  receipt  of  this  missive  thrilled  me  with  joy ; 
but  I  felt  that  proper  sentiments  obliged  me  to 
tell  my  Aunt  Helen.  It  would  scarcely  be 
honorable  to  carry  on  an  affair  of  which  she 
disapproved,  while  enjoying  her  hospitality  and 
under  her  protection.  Besides,  I  was  not  with 
out  hopes  of  winning  her  over  to  my  side.  She 
had  always  been  the  one  to  whom  I  had  gone 
for  sympathy,  and  her  desertion  in  this  case 
made  me  feel  sadly  the  need  of  an  ally.  So  I 
said  to  her  one  evening,  — 

"  Mr.  Dale  will  be  here  early  next  week." 

Aunt  Helen  shifted  uneasily  in  her  chair.  "  I 
don't  know  what  your  father  would  say  to  that. 
He  disapproves  of  your  intimacy  with  Mr.  Dale." 

"  I  know  it,  Aunt  Helen.  He  is  prejudiced 
against  him." 

"  Mr.  Dale  is  certainly  a  very  constant  young 
man,"  she  replied. 

My  heart  gave  a  bound.     Her  remarks  before 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  49 

had  been  rather  in  the  form  of  criticisms  than 
regular  objections.  I  laid  down  my  work  with 
the  resolve  to  throw  myself  on  her  mercy. 

"  Aunt  Helen,  why  is  it  that  all  of  you  are  so 
opposed  to  Mr.  Dale?" 

"  Opposed  !  Well,  dear,  I  should  hardly  call 
it  that,"  said  my  aunt.  "Your  father  has  an 
idea,  I  believe,  that  Mr.  Dale  is  mercenary  in  his 
views.  What  foundation  for  it  he  may  have 
I  do  not  know.  As  for  myself,  I  cannot  say  I 
am  opposed,  for  I  scarcely  know  the  young 
man." 

"  My  father  is  very  unjust,"  I  said  with  tears 
in  my  eyes. 

"  It  may  be,  dear.  Very  likely  he  would  own 
himself  that  it  was  merely  an  impression ;  but 
it  is  only  right  that  he  should  watch  over  your 
interests  carefully." 

"  Is  it  watching  over  my  interests  to  cast  sus 
picion  on  the  motives  of  one  of  my  best  friends?  " 

"  It  will  all  come  right  in  the  end,  dear." 

"  He  is  noble  and  high-minded.  No  one  shall 
say  anything  against  him  in  my  presence,"  I 
cried  fiercely. 

My  aunt  smoothed  out  the  lap  of  her  dress 
reflectively.  "  You  are  quite  justified  in  stand 
ing  up  for  your  friend,  Virginia.  No  one  can 
4 


50  A  ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

blame  you  for  that.  I  have  no  doubt  this  young 
Dale  is  all  you  describe  him  to  be.  Only,"  she 
added,  with  an  apologetic  cough,  "  be  discreet. 
Some  persons,  perhaps,  would  wish  to  be  better 
informed  before  ceasing  to  feel  uneasy.  I  be 
lieve,  though,  in  trusting  to  a  girl's  own  instinct 
in  these  matters :  it  rarely  goes  astray.  If  my 
parents  had  followed  that  course,  I  might  have 
been  more  happy." 

She  raised  her  handkerchief  to  her  eyes  to 
stay  a  tear,  and  with  an  impulse  of  gratitude 
and  pity  I  went  to  her  and  kissed  her. 

"  Yes,"  she  murmured,  acknowledging  my 
sympathy  with  a  pressure  of  the  hand,  "  when 
I  was  just  about  your  age  there  was  a  young 
man  who  was  very  fond  of  me,  and  I  liked  him. 
He  wished  to  marry  me." 

"  And  your  father  objected  to  him?  " 
"  He  thought  we  were  too  young.     He  insisted 
upon  our  waiting  until  we  had   more  money. 
So  we  did,  and  he  fell  into  bad  habits,  and  — 
and  we  drifted  apart.     It  is  a  long  story." 
"  Oh,  Aunt  Helen,  I  am  very  sorry." 
"  Thank  you,  dear.     I  should  never  have  told 
you  except  to  show  that  I   could  sympathize 
with  you.     Only,  as  I  have  said,  be  discreet.     It 
is  a  serious  responsibility  for  me  to  assume.     I 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  51 

hope  you  will  take  no  decisive  steps  without 
consulting  your  father  Kiss  me,  Virginia." 

We  embraced  with  fervor,  and  I  was  sure  that 
I  had  gained  an  ally. 

Mr.  Dale  arrived  on  the  expected  day  and 
was  kindly  welcomed  by  my  aunt,  who  asked 
him  to  stay  to  tea.  It  was  a  superb  evening, 
and  he  proposed  that  we  should  go  out  on  the 
water  as  was  the  custom  at  Tinker's  Reach. 

He  had  been  an  accomplished  oar  in  College, 
and  a  dozen  strokes  sent  the  light  boat  skim 
ming  beyond  the  bevy  of  similar  craft  by  which 
we  were  surrounded.  The  sea  was  calm  as  a 
mill-pond,  and  the  moon  was  at  the  full.  I  lay 
back  with  my  face  turned  to  the  heavens  and 
my  fingers  trailing  in  the  cool  water.  Mr. 
Dale  rowed  on  until  the  lights  on  shore  seemed 
mere  specks,  and  we  could  just  perceive  the 
gentle  roll  of  the  Atlantic  swell.  He  rested  on 
his  oars  and  listened.  The  voices  of  the  others 
were  lost  in  the  distance,  and  only  the  tinkle  of 
a  banjo  wafted  from  afar  broke  the  night's  tran 
quillity.  The  water  was  alive  with  phospho 
rescence  that  sparkled  like  gems  around  the 
blades. 

We  had  neither  of  us  spoken  since  starting. 
I  know  not  what  were  his  thoughts,  but  mine 


52  A  ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

were  full  of  happiness.  I  felt  sure,  —  sure  of 
his  love,  and  sure  that  he  should  have  mine  for 
the  asking.  And  yet,  so  perfect  was  my  peace, 
that  I  hoped  he  would  postpone  the  words  that 
were  to  make  us  still  nearer  to  each  other.  We 
had  talked  so  much  of  love  and  of  its  rapture  and 
unselfishness  earlier  in  our  acquaintance,  that 
now  it  was  come  to  us  silence  seemed  the  most 
fitting  commentary. 

But  he  had  made  up  his  mind  to  speak  at 
once. 

"  Virginia,  I  have  brought  you  out  here  where 
we  are  alone,  and  where  only  Nature  can  inter 
rupt  us,  to  tell  you  that  I  adore  you.  Let  the 
inconstant  moon  and  twinkling  stars  laugh  as 
they  please.  I  know  that  true  love  exists,  for  my 
soul  is  full  of  it  at  this  moment.  Speak,  dearest, 
and  make  me  happy  forever." 

In  the  fulness  of  my  transport  at  his  ardent 
words,  it  seemed  to  me  that  heaven  was  come 
down  to  earth.  My  dreams  had  promised  no 
such  blessedness  as  this.  Faintly  and  softly  I 
murmured,  — 

"  Roger,  you  know  that  I  love  you  with  all 
my  heart." 

"  My  darling  !  " 

"  My  beloved !  " 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  53 

Is  there  an  hour  to  compare  in  unqualified  hap 
piness  with  that  in  which  a  woman  of  impulsive 
nature,  ignorant  of  the  world  and  blindly  trust 
ing,  whispers  the  confidences  of  her  innocent 
bosom  in  the  ear  of  her  accepted  lover?  Roger 
and  I,  alternately  silent  with  bliss  or  overflowing 
with  the  rapture  of  the  heart's  language,  strolled 
arm  in  arm  along  the  moonlit  shores  far  into  the 
night 

Only  one  incident  marred  our  content  "Vir 
ginia,"  said  Roger  suddenly,  "  what  will  your 
father  say?  " 

My  father  !  I  had  never  thought  of  him.  So 
absorbing  had  been  the  consciousness  that  Roger 
Dale  loved  me  and  I  returned  his  love,  that 
every  other  consideration  was  blotted  from  my 
mind. 

"  Not  to-night.  We  will  not  talk  of  that  to 
night.  Let  me  be  happy  while  I  can,"  I  cried, 
pressing  his  arm  with  feverish  fondness. 

"He  dislikes  me  then?  I  was  sure  of  it,"  he 
said  quietly,  but  there  was  a  scowl  on  his  face. 

"  He  does  not  know  you,  Roger.  But  I  will 
make  him  give  his  consent  He  cannot  refuse 
me  anything." 

We  walked  on  in  silence.  I  felt  stirred  and 
rebellious.  "  Dearest,"  said  I,  in  a  low  tone  of 


54  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

determination,  "  I  will  be  true  to  you  whatever 
happens." 

He  stooped  his  head  and  kissed  me.  "  If  you 
are  as  constant  to  me,  sweet  Virginia,  as  I  shall 
be  to  you,  nothing  can  separate  us." 

Oh,  joyous  words !  Were  they  not  the  very 
same  with  which  I  had  fortified  my  courage 
scarcely  a  month  ago? 

We  parted  just  after  midnight.  My  aunt  was 
sitting  up  for  me,  and  I  burst  into  the  room  in 
great  excitement 

"  Oh,  Aunt  Helen,  I  am  engaged,  I  am  en 
gaged  !  I  am  so  happy ! " 

"My  darling  child!" 

We  wept  in  each  other's  arms. 

"  He  is  so  noble,  Aunty;  so  good  and  kind  !  " 

"  God  grant  he  may  continue  so  !  "  she  said, 
stroking  my  hair. 

I  gave  a  vent  to  my  ecstasy  in  talk.  While 
I  rattled  on  she  sat  drying  her  eyes  and  looking 
at  me  with  a  half  fond,  half  uneasy  expression. 
Now  and  again  she  sobbed  hysterically.  At 
last  she  exclaimed,  "What  will  your  father 
say?" 

"We  will  think  of  that  to-morrow,"  I  said. 
"  I  mean  to  be  perfectly  happy  to-night." 

"  You  will  have  to  write  to  him  of  course." 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  SS 

"  We  have  decided  on  nothing  yet." 

"  Oh,  Virginia,  I  am  all  in  a  flutter.  What  will 
he  say?  He  is  sure  to  blame  me,  and  Heaven 
knows  I  acted  for  what  seemed  to  me  the  best." 

"  It  was  the  best,  dear  Aunt  Helen.  Can't 
you  see  how  happy  I  am?  When  Roger  and  I 
are  married,  you  shall  come  and  live  with  us 
always,  and  have  the  best  room  in  the  house; 
for  if  it  had  n't  been  for  you  I  might  never  have 
known  what  it  is  to  be  loved  by  the  noblest 
man  in  the  world." 

It  was  a  long  time  before  I  fell  asleep.  I  was 
aroused  in  the  morning  by  a  knock  at  my  door. 
It  was  Aunt  Helen. 

"  Let  me  in,"  she  said  mysteriously. 

"Well?"  said  I  when  I  had  risen  and  admitted 
her,  "what  is  it?  What  has  happened?" 

"  Your  father  has  just  arrived.  He  is  down 
stairs." 

"Father?" 

"  Yes.  He  knows  nothing  of  course.  I  have 
scarcely  slept  a  wink  all  night,  Virginia.  I  feel 
dreadfully  nervous.  What  will  he  say  ?  " 

I  got  back  into  bed  and  drew  the  clothes  up 
to  my  chin  in  an  affectation  of  composure.  But 
I  was  overwhelmed  by  the  news.  His  opposi 
tion  seemed  a  much  more  serious  consideration 


56  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

than  when  regarded  by  moonlight.  A  visit  from 
him  at  any  other  time  would  not  have  been  a 
surprise,  for  he  had  said  he  should  run  down  to 
Tinker's  Reach  at  his  first  leisure  moment. 

My  aunt  stood  at  the  foot  of  the  bed,  watching 
my  face  and  expecting  me  to  speak. 

"What  do  you  mean  to  do  about  it?"  she 
asked. 

"Tell  him,"  I  replied. 

"  I  suppose  you  might  put  it  off  until  you 
return  to  town,  especially  if  you  would  make 
up  your  mind  to  see  very  little  of  Mr.  Dale  in 
the  mean  time." 

"  No.  It  is  best  to  have  it  over  and  done 
with.  I  want  it  settled  now  and  forever."  I  felt 
my  courage  hardening. 

"  Well,  Heaven  bless  you,  child !  "  she  said, 
kissing  me.  "  You  must  admit,  Virginia,  that  I 
have  warned  you  all  along  that  your  father  was 
opposed  to  Mr.  Dale." 

"  It  is  not  your  fault  in  any  way,  Aunt  Helen. 
I  shall  tell  him  so." 

She  left  me,  and  I  dressed  deliberately.  There 
was  evidently  no  escape  from  the  situation. 
But  upon  one  point  I  was  perfectly  decided : 
nothing  should  induce  me  to  give  up  Roger. 
I  was  ready  to  postpone  our  wedding  for  the 


A    ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  $7 

present,  or  to  humor  my  father's  objections  in 
any  reasonable  way.  But  renounce  him,  never ! 
Having  arrived  at  this  determination  I  went 
downstairs.  My  father  was  eating  his  breakfast, 
and  I  waited  until  he  was  comfortably  settled 
with  a  cigar  on  the  sofa,  before  making  my  con 
fession.  Aunt  Helen  had  taken  the  precaution 
to  absent  herself  from  the  room.  I  began 
bravely :  — 

"  Father,  there  is  something  I  wish  to  tell  you 
that  interests  me  very  deeply." 

He  removed  the  cigar,  and  looked  at  me 
inquiringly.  I  saw  he  did  not  suspect  the 
truth. 

"  I  am  engaged  to  be  married  to  Mr.  Roger 
Dale.  You  must  not  be  angry,  father,"  I  con 
tinued  hastily.  "  You  cannot  help  liking  him 
when  you  know  him  better.  He  is  worthy  of 
me  in  every  way." 

I  ventured  to  look  at  him ;  he  was  smoking 
with  quick,  nervous  puffs  that  betokened  great 
excitement. 

"  Bah  !  "  he  cried  presently.  "  Bah  !  what  a 
fool  I  have  been  !  I  might  have  known  it  would 
end  in  some  such  way  as  this.  No  girl  ever  had 
a  better  opportunity  than  you,  and  yet  you  are 
ready  to  sacrifice  everything  for  the  sake  of  a 


58  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

fellow  who  is  no  more  fit  to  be  your  husband 
than  the  veriest  beggar  in  the  street.  You  have 
disappointed  me  terribly,  Virginia.  I  believed 
you  to  be  sensible  and  clever;  but  the  admis 
sion  you  have  just  made  proves  you  to  be  little 
short  of  a  goose.  Bah !  you  could  n't  have 
chosen  worse.  A  dissipated,  mercenary  good- 
for-nothing  ! " 

"You  must  not  speak  in  that  way  of  Roger, 
father.  I  cannot  sit  here  and  let  him  be  abused. 
Scold  me  as  much  as  you  please,  but  don't  say 
anything  against  him.  You  do  not  understand 
him." 

"  Understand  him,  indeed  !  It  is  you  who  do 
not  understand  him.  I  never  expected  that  a 
daughter  of  mine  would  fall  in  love  with  a 
barber's  block." 

This  was  too  much  for  my  endurance.  "You 
are  unjust,"  I  cried  with  flashing  eyes.  "  It  is 
too  late  to  talk  so.  We  love  each  other,  and 
if  my  own  father  repulses  me  we  must  go  else 
where  for  a  blessing." 

I  have  an  idea  that  I  looked  like  a  queen  of 
tragedy  as  I  stood  and  braved  him  thus,  for  he 
gazed  at  me  with  a  sort  of  astonishment,  and 
made  a  movement  as  if  to  deter  me  from  leav 
ing  the  room.  Just  then,  as  fortune  willed,  the 


A  ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  59 

door  was  thrown  open,  and  the  servant  ushered 
in  Roger  Dale. 

He  looked  from  the  one  to  the  other  of  us, 
and  his  cheeks  reddened. 

"So,  sir,"  exclaimed  my  father,  "you  have 
come  to  claim  your  bride !  You  will  have  to 
reckon  with  me  first;  and  I  warn  you  that  you 
will  need  stronger  arguments  than  any  I  have 
ever  heard  in  your  favor,  to  convince  me  that 
you  are  the  proper  man  to  marry  my  daughter. 
Virginia,  you  may  leave  us.  I  will  send  for  you 
when  I  wish  for  you.  This  gentleman  and  I 
are  capable  of  settling  this  matter  together." 

I  saw  that  my  father  was  in  a  rage  that  would 
not  brook  resistance.  But  my  own  blood  was 
boiling.  Roger  stood  pale  but  seemingly  un 
abashed,  gazing  at  me  as  if  he  waited  for  me  to 
speak.  I  addressed  him  :  — 

"  Whatever  my  father  may  say  to  you,  Roger, 
do  not  forget  that  I  have  promised  to  be  your 
wife."  With  this  speech  I  left  the  room. 


60  A   ROMANTIC    YOUNG  LADY. 


VI. 


WENT  to  my  room  and  bolted  the  door. 
Presently  Aunt  Helen  knocked,  but  I  de 
clined  to  let  her  in.  I  felt  grievously  wronged. 
My  father  had  trampled  upon  the  most  sacred 
sentiments  of  my  soul.  He  had  spurned  and 
insulted  the  man  I  loved.  What  proofs  had  he 
of  the  charges  he  had  brought?  Dissipation! 
It  could  not  be.  I  surely  would  have  discovered 
this  long  ago  if  it  had  been  true.  Mercenary ! 
Could  he  be  called  mercenary  whom  a  high 
sense  of  honor  had  forbidden  to  assist  me  in 
the  investment  of  my  property?  Good  for 
nothing !  Ah,  my  father  did  not  know  the 
noble  impulses  that  underlay  Roger  Dale's 
unostentatious  manner ! 

I  do  not  know  how  long  it  was  before  Aunt 
Helen  knocked  a  second  time,  and  said  that  my 
father  had  sent  for  me.  It  was  probably  not 
more  than  half  an  hour,  but  it  had  seemed  to 
me  an  eternity.  I  was  waiting  for  the  summons, 
with  the  box  containing  my  securities  beside  me ; 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  6l 

and  with  this  in  my  hands  I  confronted  my  father 
once  more  in  the  parlor. 

He  was  no  longer  visibly  angry.  Both  he 
and  Roger  were  smoking,  and  sitting  at  ease 
as  I  entered.  I  took  a  chair  close  by  my  lover's 
side,  and  looked  at  him  fondly.  He  returned 
my  glance,  but  there  was  a  shadow  of  annoyance 
in  his  expression  that  made  me  feel  uneasy.  It 
brought  to  my  mind  his  face  as  I  had  noticed  it 
the  previous  evening,  when  he  spoke  of  my 
father's  prejudice  against  him. 

At  last  my  father  saw  fit  to  begin.  He  spoke 
in  a  deliberate,  business-like  tone,  free  from  pas 
sion.  "  I  have  sent  for  you,  Virginia,  to  repeat 
to  you  what  I  have  already  said  to  Mr.  Dale. 
Once  and  for  all,  I  will  never  give  my  consent 
to  your  marriage.  I  am  utterly  and  radically 
opposed  to  it.  I  have  been  from  the  first,  as 
you  are  aware.  If  you  ask  for  my  reasons, 
I  do  not  consider  this  gentleman  fitted  to  be 
my  son-in-law.  He  has  on  his  own  admission 
no  means  to  support  a  wife ;  he  has  no  ambi 
tion  or  desire  to  excel,  and  I  know  from  pos 
itive  evidence  that  his  habits  are  by  no  means 
exemplary." 

He  paused,  and  I  glanced  anxiously  at  Roger; 
but  his  eyes  were  fixed  on  the  floor,  and  he  sat 


62  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

drumming  gently  on  the  table  with  the  fingers 
of  one  hand. 

"  If  you  persevere  in  this  piece  of  folly  con 
trary  to  my  expressed  wishes,  you  do  it,  Vir 
ginia,  at  your  own  peril,  for  I  warn  you  that  my 
resolution  is  fixed  and  cannot  be  shaken.  Do 
not  hope,  either  of  you,  by  nursing  the  affair 
along  to  overcome  my  objections  later.  That 
is  a  favorite  resort  of  young  people  in  novels ; 
but  if  fathers  in  real  life  are  so  weak  in  general, 
I  shall  prove  an  exception.  As  you  know,  Vir 
ginia,  the  part  of  a  tyrannical  parent  is  the  last 
I  ever  expected  to  be  called  upon  to  play.  I 
have  allowed  you  every  indulgence,  and  trusted 
you  to  an  extent  that  I  am  beginning  to  believe 
was  unwise.  But  I  will  not  waste  time  in  words ; 
my  resolution  is  perfectly  explicit.  My  will  is 
made  in  your  favor.  If  I  should  die  to-day,  you 
would  be  mistress  of  all  my  property.  Unless 
you  promise  me  not  to  marry  this  man,  I  shall 
alter  it  to-morrow,  and  neither  of  you  shall  ever 
receive  one  cent  from  me  during  my  lifetime 
or  at  my  decease.  This  sounds  like  a  threat, 
but  it  is  only  intended  to  show  to  the  fullest  ex 
tent  in  my  power  how  fatal  to  your  happiness 
I  consider  this  union  would  be.  I  can  say  no 
more  than  this.  I  cannot  prevent  you  from 


A    ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  63 

marrying  Mr.  Dale  if  you  are  bent  upon  it. 
There  are  no  laws  to  punish  foolish  women 
or  mercenary  men ;  but  you  must  take  the  con 
sequences.  What  you  have  in  that  box,"  he 
continued,  nodding  towards  me,  "  is  all  you 
will  ever  receive  at  my  hands.  If  I  am  not 
mistaken,  this  young  gentleman  would  play 
ducks-and-drakes  with  that  in  a  very  short 
time.  I  have  said  my  say,  and  now  you  can 
suit  yourselves." 

I  had  listened  to  his  words  with  a  constantly 
increasing  indignation  that  overshadowed  the 
remorse  I  felt  at  having  disappointed  his  hopes. 
So  incensed  was  I  at  his  aspersions  of  Roger 
that  I  almost  laughed  when  he  spoke  of  disin 
heriting  me.  But  the  taunt  that  Roger  was 
courting  me  for  my  money  was  most  galling  of 
all,  by  very  force  of  reiteration.  I  started  to 
my  feet  once  more  with  a  defiant  air. 

"  It  is  not  true.  You  misjudge  Mr.  Dale  cruelly. 
To  show  you,  father,  how  free  our  love  is  from 
the  base  and  paltry  motives  you  impute,  and 
that  we  do  not  need  your  help,  see  there  !  " 

I  rushed  through  the  open  window  which  led 
to  the  piazza,  and  before  either  my  father  or 
Roger  divined  my  intention,  hurled  with  all  my 
might  the  box  of  securities  over  the  railing  into 


64  A    ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

the  sea  beneath.  It  opened  just  before  reach 
ing  the  water,  and  the  contents  were  submerged 
by  the  seething  surf. 

I  re-entered  the  parlor  with  a  triumphant  air. 
Roger's  face  wore  a  half-scared  look  as  he  began 
to  realize  what  I  had  done. 

"  Mad  girl !  "  cried  my  father  with  a  sneer. 
"Mr.  Dale  will  not  thank  you  for  that,  I  fancy. 
You  have,  however,  done  me  an  infinite  service." 
He  turned  and  left  the  room. 

When  he  was  gone,  exhausted  and  unnerved  I 
buried  my  face  on  Roger's  shoulder  and  sobbed 
bitterly.  He  tried  to  soothe  me,  and  finally  in 
duced  me  to  sit  down.  He  sat  beside  me,  hold 
ing  my  hand  and  urging  me  to  calm  myself.  At 
last  I  turned  to  him  and  said  with  a  sudden 
transport  of  new  happiness,  and  smiling  through 
my  tears, — 

"  I  promised  to  remain  true  to  you,  Roger, 
and  I  have." 

"  Yes,  dear,  I  know.  When  you  are  a  little 
more  composed,  we  will  talk  the  matter  over 
seriously." 

There  was  something  in  his  tone  that  chilled 
me  ;  he  was  so  calm,  and  I  so  carried  away  by 
excitement. 

"  Do  not  think  of  my  father's  words,"  I  said. 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG   LADY.  65 

"  Forget  them.     I    shall  be  perfectly  happy  so 
long  as  you  love  me." 

"  He  will  never  relent,"  he  answered  gloomily. 
"  He  is  known  down  town  as  a  man  who  makes 
up  his  mind  once  for  all  time." 

"  I  would  rather  disobey  my  father  than  be 
false  to  you,"  I  responded  firmly. 

"Yes.  But  how  are  we  to  live?"  he  asked, 
rising  from  the  sofa  and  promenading  the  room 
nervously,  with  his  hands  in  his  pockets. 

"Live?"  I  echoed. 

"  Unfortunately  we  should  have  to  eat  and 
drink,  like  everybody  else.  It  was  a  pity,"  he 
continued  reflectively,  "  that  you  flung  that 
money  overboard ;  we  might  have  been  very 
comfortable  with  that." 

"  Yes,"  I  replied  in  a  dazed  sort  of  way. 

"Was  it  the  whole?"  He  stood  looking  at 
me  with  his  head  on  one  side. 

"  The  whole  of  what?  " 

"  Was  all  the  property  your  father  gave  you 
in  that  box?" 

"  Certainly:   I  wonder  you  ask,  Roger." 

He  walked  up  and  down  a  few  times  and  then 
took  a  seat  beside  me. 

"  Let  us  look  at  this  matter  in  a  common- 
sense  way,  Virginia.  Heaven  knows  I  love  you, 

5 


66  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

and  that  I  am  as  romantic  in  my  feelings  as 
any  one  could  desire.  But  suppose  we  were  to 
marry  without  your  father's  consent,  what  would 
be  the  result?  We  should  starve.  To  speak 
frankly,  I  find  it  difficult  enough  to  make  both 
ends  meet  as  a  single  man.  You  are  used  to 
every  luxury  and  comfort,  and  have  not  been 
accustomed  to  economize.  Do  not  misunder 
stand  me,  Virginia,"  he  continued,  speaking 
quickly,  struck  perhaps  by  my  expression, 
which  if  my  emotions  were  adequately  reflected 
therein  must  have  made  him  uneasy.  "  I  know 
that  you  are  capable  of  any  sacrifice ;  it  is  I  who 
am  unwilling  to  permit  you  to  give  up  your  for 
tune  and  your  family  for  my  sake.  If  there 
were  any  chance  of  your  father's  relenting,  if  I 
thought  there  was  a  possibility  that  time  would 
make  a  difference  in  his  views,  I  would  not 
speak  so.  But  as  it  is,  I  see  no  alternative  for 
us  but  an  unsuccessful  struggle  with  poverty, 
that  would  end  in  unhappiness.  It  breaks  my 
heart  to  come  to  this  conclusion,  but  justice  to 
you,  as  well  as  common-sense,  will  not  let  me  suf 
fer  you  to  commit  a  folly  which  after  the  glamour 
of  the  moment  was  over,  you  would  regret." 

It  was  the  manner  even  more  than  the  matter 
of  his    speech  that   stabbed   me   to  the  heart. 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  67 

Had  he  spoken  less  calmly  and  deliberately,  I 
might  have  believed  that  he  shrank  from  ac 
cepting  my  self-sacrifice,  and  have  regarded  his 
dampening  words  as  a  mere  cloak  for  his  own 
generosity.  But  his  unconcerned  and  dispas 
sionate  air  left  no  doubt  in  my  mind  that  it  was 
he  who  was  unwilling  to  face  the  romantic  but 
desperate  circumstances  in  which  my  father's 
decree  had  placed  us.  Instinct  told  me  that 
he  in  whose  constancy  and  in  whose  devotion 
to  ideality  I  had  believed  with  all  the  ardor 
and  trust  of  which  I  was  capable,  was  false,  and 
ready  to  subordinate  a  love  like  ours  to  tempo 
ral  considerations. 

Yet  with  the  persistence  of  one  who  clutches 
at  any  semblance  of  hope  however  slender,  I 
refused  to  believe  the  truth  without  further 
evidence. 

"  I  should  not  be  a  burden  to  you,  Roger. 
People  can  live  on  much  less  than  they  suppose. 
We  could  both  work,  I  as  well  as  you." 

He  shrugged  his  shoulders,  and  taking  both 
my  hands  in  his  looked  into  my  face  with  a 
trivial  smile,  so  little  in  accord  with  the  intensity 
of  my  feelings  that  I  almost  shrieked  with  pain. 

"  Do  you  think  I  would  allow  my  dear  girl  to 
demean  herself  in  any  such  way  as  that?  No,  no  ! 


68  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

Love  in  a  cottage  is  a  delightful  theory,  but  put 
into  practice  it  becomes  terribly  disappointing." 

I  drew  away  my  hands  from  him  and  sat  for 
some  moments  in  silence. 

"  I  think  it  is  best  that  our  engagement  should 
come  to  an  end,"  I  said  presently. 

He  made  a  sigh  of  resignation.  "  That  is  for 
you  to  decide.  It  rests  with  you,  of  course." 

"  I  agree  with  you  that  it  would  be  very 
foolish  of  us  to  marry  without  my  father's  con 
sent,  Mr.  Dale." 

He  drew  himself  up  a  little,  and  looked  at  me 
as  if  hurt.  "  Are  you  angry  with  me,  Virginia?  " 

"  Angry?     Why  should  I  be  angry?  " 

"  Then  why  call  me  Mr.  Dale?  " 

"  Because,"  I  answered  quietly  and  firmly, 
though  I  felt  my  anger  rising,  "  unless  you  are 
to  be  my  husband,  you  must  be  Mr.  Dale." 

"Can  we  not  be  friends?"  he  asked  in  a 
dejected  tone. 

"We  can  never  be  anything  else,"  I  answered 
with  some  ambiguity;  and  I  rose  and  rang  the 
bell. 

The  servant  entered.  "  Tell  Mr.  Harlan,  please, 
that  I  would  like  to  speak  to  him." 

"  I  think  we  are  acting  for  the  best,"  he  said, 
after  an  awkward  pause. 


A    ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  69 

"  I  am  sure  we  are,  Mr.  Dale."  It  was  un 
dignified,  it  may  be,  to  betray  my  feelings, 
but  my  love  was  too  strong  to  die  without  a 
murmur. 

My  father  looked  inquiringly  at  us  as  he  en 
tered.  His  face  seemed  to  me  almost  haggard. 

I  said  at  once,  "  Father,  we  have  made  up 
our  minds  that  you  are  right.  It  would  be 
madness  in  us  to  marry  without  your  consent. 
The  credit  of  our  decision  belongs  to  Mr.  Dale. 
He  has  proved  to  me  that  our  engagement 
should  come  to  an  end." 

My  father  turned  toward  him  with  a  scornful 
smile,  appreciating,  I  think,  the  gentle  sarcasm 
of  my  words.  But  I  doubt  if  Roger  did,  for  he 
added  immediately,  — 

"Yes,  sir;  I  cannot  consent  to  the  sacrifice 
your  daughter  is  prepared  to  make." 

"  I  am  glad  that  she  as  well  as  you  have  come 
to  your  senses,  and  I  thank  you  for  making  the 
only  amends  possible  for  having  endeavored  to 
enter  my  family  contrary  to  my  desire,  by  teach 
ing  my  daughter  her  duty.  I  have  no  doubt 
that  we  shall  both  be  very  grateful  to  you  in  the 
future." 

This  time  Roger  perceived  that  he  was  being 
laughed  at,  for  his  cheeks  flushed.  But  he  re- 


70  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

covered  his  composure,  and  looking  at  me, 
said,  — 

"  I  trust  I  may  continue  to  come  to  see  you 
as  usual." 

I  trembled  all  over  at  his  words,  but  I  con 
trolled  myself,  and  answered,  — 

"  If  you  wish." 

After  a  few  moments  of  awkward  hesitancy 
he  left  us. 

When  I  knew  that  he  was  really  gone,  I  could 
restrain  myself  no  longer.  Sinking  into  a  chair, 
I  covered  my  face  with  my  hands  and  burst  into 
a  flood  of  tears.  "  Oh,  father,  he  has  deceived 
me !  He  has  broken  my  heart !  " 


BOOK  II. 
SOPHISTICATION. 


I. 


TN  the  bitterness  of  my  humiliation  and  dis- 
tress  at  the  perfidy  of  Roger  Dale  I  came 
near  running  away  from  home.  My  youthful 
imaginations,  as  I  have  already  mentioned,  were 
of  a  realistic  order,  and  it  had  been  a  favorite 
scheme  with  me  to  become  a  shop-girl.  So 
when  this  sorrow  overwhelmed  me,  I  thought 
seriously  of  going  out  into  the  world  to  seek  my 
fortune  in  some  such  capacity.  It  was  only  my 
father's  kindness  during  those  dreadful  first  days 
that  deterred  me  from  carrying  out  some  ro 
mantic  plan  of  escape.  I  felt  sore  and  mortified, 
and  ready  to  take  any  steps  that  would  separate 
me  from  my  old  surroundings. 

Aunt  Helen  did  her  best  to  comfort  me,  but 
I  was  in  no  frame  of  mind  to  talk  it  all  over, 
which  was,  I  knew,  her  main  idea  of  solace,  — 
that  and  frequent  offers  of  tempting  food.  On 
the  other  hand,  my  father  made  no  allusion  to 
the  wretched  incident  during  the  fortnight  he 
remained  at  Tinker's  Reach.  He  treated  me 


74  A    ROMANTIC  YOUNG  LADY. 

exactly  as  if  nothing  had  happened,  except  that 
every  morning  after  breakfast  he  proposed  a 
walk  through  the  woods  or  up  the  mountain. 
Indifferent  to  everything  as  I  was  at  the  mo 
ment,  I  had  a  consciousness  that  this  exercise 
was  beneficial  to  me,  and  I  was  grateful  at  heart. 
Anything  was  better  than  harping  over  and 
over  again  on  the  same  string  the  story  of  my 
wrongs.  Walking  interrupted  this  in  a  measure, 
though  during  the  long  tramps  which  I  had 
with  my  father  we  rarely  talked,  and  I  usually 
in  monosyllables.  In  this  manner  we  explored 
the  outlying  country  within  a  radius  of  twenty 
miles,  and  when  night  came  I  was  so  fatigued 
that  I  was  apt  to  sleep,  and  consequently  was 
spared  the  pale  cheeks  and  dull  eyes  that  for 
the  most  part  afflict  those  who  have  undergone 
an  experience  similar  to  mine. 

One  of  the  reasons  why  I  did  not  run  away 
from  home  was  my  lack  of  funds.  I  was  penni 
less,  for  all  my  money  was  with  the  securities  I 
threw  into  the  sea.  I  was  inclined,  however, 
to  congratulate  myself  upon  this  extravagant 
proceeding,  for  the  reason  that  had  I  acted  less 
impulsively  I  might  not  have  detected  Roger's 
selfishness  until  it  was  too  late.  But  when  just 
before  my  father  went  away  he  handed  me  a 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  75 

roll  of  bank-bills,  the  color  rose  to  my  cheeks, 
and  I  began  to  reflect  upon  the  enormity  of  my 
offence.  He  told  me  that  he  had  ordered  a 
saddle-horse  to  be  sent  to  me  from  town,  which 
he  hoped  I  would  use  regularly,  and  that  in  the 
autumn  he  proposed  to  take  me  with  him  on  a 
journey  to  California. 

I  listened  in  silence ;  but  I  rode  the  horse,  and 
found  him  just  the  companion  I  required.  He 
could  not  talk,  and  yet  was  sufficiently  spirited 
to  prevent  me  from  self-absorption.  My  father 
also  sent  me  a  box  of  books,  which  embraced 
a  variety  of  literature.  Although  there  were 
some  light  and  amusing  sketches  among  them, 
novels  of  sentiment  and  poetry  had  been  ex 
cluded.  On  the  other  hand  he  had  picked  out 
the  latest  and  most  authoritative  publications 
relating  to  history,  science,  biography,  and  travel, 
by  which  I  soon  found  myself  engrossed  and  di 
verted.  I  read  voluminously,  and  when  this  sup 
ply  was  exhausted  I  wrote  home  for  more. 

This  was  my  interest  during  the  remainder  of 
the  summer,  and  when  autumn  came  I  was 
conscious  of  having  undergone  a  mental  change. 
Whereas  I  was  formerly  trusting,  credulous,  and 
optimistic,  at  least  toward  all  except  myself,  I 
was  become  suspicious  even  of  the  seal  of  sin- 


76  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

cerity,  weighed  words,  and  applied  the  scalpel  of 
analysis  to  others'  motives  as  well  as  to  my  own. 

But  this  cynical  phase  did  not  last  long,  and 
gave  way  in  turn  to  a  much  more  serious  view 
of  life  than  I  had  hitherto  taken.  The  trip 
which  I  made  to  California  with  my  father  did 
much  to  promote  this.  We  were  absent  from 
home  eight  weeks,  and  we  visited  all  the  princi 
pal  cities  and  saw  the  chief  sights  of  the  West. 
My  father  was  assiduous  in  his  kindness.  He 
took  pains  to  explain  to  me  the  immense  value 
and  importance  of  the  wool  and  the  wheat  and 
the  cattle  and  the  ore  which  were  the  staple  pro 
ducts  of  the  States  and  Territories  through  which 
we  passed.  He  showed  me  on  the  map  the  im 
mense  net-work  of  railways  by  means  of  which 
these  industries,  if  not  consumed  at  home,  were 
carried  to  the  seaboard  either  of  the  Atlantic  or 
the  Pacific,  and  made  profitable  to  the  producer 
by  exportation  to  foreign  lands.  He  tried  to 
interest  me  in  such  commercial  and  economic 
questions,  so  that,  as  he  said,  I  need  not  like 
most  women  remain  in  entire  ignorance  regard 
ing  the  vital  interests  of  the  world.  Although 
I  was  still  stolid  and  indifferent  in  manner,  I 
listened  attentively  to  his  instructions  and  appre 
ciated  the  service  he  was  doing  me. 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  77 

One  evening  shortly  after  our  return,  Aunt 
Helen  said  to  me,  with  a  prefatory  cough  which 
was  apt  to  be  a  sign  that  she  regarded  the  topic 
to  be  broached  as  delicate,  — 

"  Virginia,  it  is  time  for  you  to  be  thinking 
about  your  party  dresses.  Of  course  it  is  too 
late  now  to  send  to  Paris ;  but  I  fancy  it  is  pos 
sible  to  get  tolerable  things  here,  if  one  is  ready 
to  pay  a  little  more." 

"  I  shall  not  require  party  dresses.  I  am 
not  going  anywhere  this  winter,"  I  answered 
quietly. 

As  I  have  just  intimated,  Aunt  Helen  was 
somewhat  apprehensive  regarding  my  plans, 
owing  to  a  few  hints  which  I  had  let  fall  at  Tin 
ker's  Reach.  She  had  suggested  my  sending 
an  order  to  Paris  about  a  fortnight  subsequent 
to  my  last  interview  with  Mr.  Dale,  but  I  de 
clined  emphatically  to  do  so.  It  was  evident, 
however,  from  her  expression  that  my  resolve 
was  a  source  of  surprise  and  dismay  to  her. 

"  Not  go  anywhere?  Why,  people  will  think 
you  are  ill." 

"  My  looks  will  belie  that,  Aunt  Helen." 

"  It  will  seem  so  odd  and  peculiar.  A  girl 
always  enjoys  her  second  winter  more  than  the 
first.  Just  when  you  have  come  to  know  every- 


78  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

body  too  !  I  hope  you  will  reconsider  this,  dear. 
You  had  better  order  the  dresses  at  any  rate," 
she  continued ;  "  you  might  want  to  go  when 
the  time  comes,  and  then  it  would  be  too  late." 

I  shook  my  head  decisively :  "  I  am  sorry  to 
disappoint  you,  but  my  mind  is  made  up." 

Aunt  Helen  coughed  again.  "  You  are  not 
disappointing  me ;  it  is  only  on  your  own  ac 
count  that  I  feel  badly.  You  will  make  a  great 
mistake,  Virginia.  Of  course,  dear,  you  have 
passed  through  a  very  unpleasant  experience, 
which  I  am  all  the  more  able  to  appreciate  from 
having  had,  as  you  are  aware,  sorrows  of  a  simi 
lar  kind.  But  painful  as  such  experiences  are 
for  those  called  upon  to  undergo  them,  they 
\  are,  I  regret  to  say,  far  from  uncommon ;  and 
if  a  young  person  who  has  suffered  a  disap 
pointment  were  to  turn  his  or  her  back  on  all 
entertainments,  what,  pray,  would  become  of 
society?  " 

"  Society  will  get  along  very  well  without 
me,"  I  answered. 

Aunt  Helen  knitted  rapidly  in  silence,  and  the 
color  mounted  to  her  cheeks. 

"  You  will  make  a  great  mistake,  Virginia," 
she  repeated,  —  "a  great  mistake.  No  young 
lady  of  your  age  can  afford  to  make  herself 


A    ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  79 

conspicuous  by  acting  differently  from  other 
people.  Do  you  wish  to  be  called  eccentric 
and  peculiar?  " 

"  I  don't  much  care,"  said  I  with  a  spice  of 
wickedness.  "  It  might  be  rather  attractive,  I 
should  think,  to  be  different  from  everybody 
else." 

"  I  can  imagine  who  has  been  putting  such 
ideas  into  your  head.  In  my  opinion  one 
strong-minded  woman  in  the  family  is  quite 
enough,"  she  said  with  a  toss  of  her  head. 

I  knew  that  she  referred  to  Aunt  Agnes,  who 
had  returned  from  Europe  a  few  weeks  before; 
therefore  I  said,  — 

"  I  have  not  exchanged  a  word  with  anybody 
on  the  subject." 

"  What  is  the  reason,  then,  that  you  persist  in 
being  so  contrary?"  she  exclaimed  in  a  thor 
oughly  worried  tone,  laying  down  her  work  on 
her  lap. 

"  Because  I  have  awakened  to  the  fact  that 
the  little  circle  in  which  we  move  does  not  con 
stitute  the  world,"  I  answered,  rather  nettled  by 
her  solicitude.  "  I  live  as  completely  hedged 
about  by  conventions  as  the  sleeping  Beauty  by 
the  growth  of  a  hundred  years." 

She  opened  her  eyes  in  amazement     "  All 


80  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

women  in  every  circle  except  the  very  lowest 
are  hedged  about  by  conventions,"  she  replied 
severely.  "  What  is  it  you  wish  to  do?  " 

"  I  don't  know  that  I  wish  to  do  anything.  I 
am  waiting  for  something  to  suggest  itself." 

"  Does  your  father  know  of  this?  "  she  asked. 

"Of  what?" 

"  Of  your  intention  to  give  up  society." 

"  I  have  not  thought  it  important  enough  to 
mention  it  to  him." 

"  Important  enough?  I  shall  feel  it  my  duty 
to  inform  him.  We  shall  hear  next  that  you 
have  gone  on  the  stage,  or  done  something 
equally  extraordinary." 

"What  do  you  mean?"  I  inquired  with  a 
wondering  laugh. 

"  I  have  merely  taken  you  at  your  own  words. 
You  have  expressed  dissatisfaction  with  the  circle 
in  which  you  live,  and  wish  to  try  another.  The 
only  place  where  people  are  thoroughly  uncon 
ventional  is  on  the  stage." 

It  was  useless  to  discuss  the  matter  further. 
Aunt  Helen  was  not  to  be  brought  to  look  at  it 
from  my  point  of  view,  and  I  was  resolute  in  my 
determination.  I  wished  to  meet  and  know  a 
different  set  of  people  from  those  of  the  fashion 
able  world.  My  ideas  on  the  subject  were 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  8 1 

vague.     I  had  spoken  the  truth  in  saying  that 
I  was  waiting  for  something  to  suggest  itself. 

There  were  of  course  plenty  of  earnest  and 
interesting  people,  if  one  knew  how  to  discover 
them.  Naturally  I  often  thought  of  Aunt  Agnes, 
but  pride  interdicted  me  from  applying  to  her. 
I  felt  that  she  had,  to  quote  her  own  words, 
once  for  all  made  overtures  to  me,  which  I  had 
declined,  and  that  I  could  not  bear  the  humili 
ation  of  going  to  her  and  confessing  my  ingrati 
tude.  When  she  came  to  spend  the  evening  with 
us  just  after  her  return  from  Europe,  her  first 
remark  to  me  had  been :  "  Well,  a  pretty  mess 
you  and  your  Aunt  Helen  have  made  of  it !  " 
Beyond  this  she  made  no  allusion  to  what  had 
occurred,  but  she  answered  all  my  questions 
regarding  her  travels  with  the  curtness  of  one 
who  mistrusts  the  interest  of  the  questioner. 

However,  as  we  had  not  met  since,  I  felt  in 
duty  bound  to  pay  my  respects  to  her,  and 
accordingly  dropped  in  one  day  about  luncheon 
time.  She  was  not  alone ;  and  her  visitor,  who 
was  a  young  woman  some  five  years  my  senior, 
stopped  short  in  her  animated  conversation  as  I 
entered,  and  swept  down  upon  me  with  a  wealth 
of  facial  expression  in  response  to  my  Aunt's 
guttural  — 

6 


82  A  ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

"  My  niece!  " 

"  This  is  too  pleasant,  Miss  Harlan.  I  have 
heard  about  you  so  often,  and  wished  to  meet 
you.  Now  that  we  are  acquainted,  I  do  hope 
we  shall  be  friends." 

"  This  is  Miss  Kingsley,  Virginia.  You  will 
not  do  amiss  to  follow  in  her  footsteps,"  said 
Aunt  Agnes,  by  way  of  setting  me  down  where 
she  considered  I  belonged,  for  I  had  not  so  far 
mortified  the  flesh  as  to  alter  my  street  cos 
tumes.  As  a  consequence  I  was  the  pink  of 
neatness  in  a  new  bonnet  which  contrasted  itself 
already  in  my  mind  with  the  over-trimmed 
attire  of  my  aunt's  guest.  I  noticed  that  Miss 
Kingsley  looked  me  over  from  head  to  foot  with 
a  sweeping  glance  as  she  spoke. 

But  I  felt  humble-minded,  and  disposed  to 
seize  any  straw  that  might  help  me  to  realize 
my  desire  for  new  acquaintances.  So  I  smiled 
sweetly,  as  though  undisturbed  by  my  aunt's 
severity,  and  greeted  Miss  Kingsley  with  more 
effusion  than  it  was  my  wont  to  display  toward 
strangers. 

"  I  have  heard  that  Miss  Virginia  Harlan  is 
very  clever,"  she  said,  opening  and  shutting  her 
eyes  in  rapid  succession,  which  I  soon  found 
was  usual  with  her  when  she  wished  to  be 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  83 

gracious,  and  which  had  much  the  effect  of  heat 
lightning  on  the  beholder.  "  Were  n't  you  at 
Tinker's  Reach  last  summer?  "  she  continued. 

"  She  was,"  answered  Aunt  Agnes  in  a  stern 
tone. 

"  Then  you  will  be  able  to  tell  me  if  it  is  Mr. 
Dobbs  or  Dobson  of  Philadelphia,  who  is  en 
gaged  to  our  Miss  Bentley.  I  wrote  it  Dobbs,  as 
seeming  rather  more  distinguished.  I  agree 
with  Mr.  Spence  that  monosyllables  are  the 
most  sympathetic." 

"I  am  very  sorry  to  say  his  name  is  Dobson/' 
I  answered. 

Miss  Kingsley  sighed.  "  What  a  pity !  Mere 
accuracy  and  art  come  so  often  into  collision 
that  it  is  difficult  at  times  for  us  artists  to  do 
justice  to  both.  I  expended  much  thought  on 
that  item." 

I  felt  greatly  puzzled.  It  was  evident  she 
took  it  for  granted  that  I  knew  who  she  was. 
But  Aunt  Agnes  in  attempting  to  enlighten  me 
made  my  confusion  all  the  greater. 

"  I  presume,  Virginia,  that  you  are  aware  that 
Miss  Kingsley  is  '  Alpha'  ?  " 

"  '  Alpha '  ?  "     I  faltered. 

"  You  must  certainly  have  often  read  her 
column  in  the  '  Sunday  Mercury '  ?  " 


84  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

I  looked  embarrassed,  for  I  never  had.  But 
the  source  of  the  item  which  had  appeared 
about  me  in  that  newspaper  was  now  ap 
parent 

Miss  Kingsley  blushed,  and  giggled  convul 
sively.  "  No  offence.  Quite  natural,  I  'm  sure. 
You  have  much  better  things  to  do  than  to  read 
my  articles,  Miss  Virginia.  I  only  thought  you 
might  have  happened  to  read  Mr.  Spence's 
'  Sonnet  to  Alpha  '  in  our  last  issue." 

I  was  obliged  to  admit  that  I  had  not;  and 
feeling  that  it  was  as  well  to  make  a  clean  breast 
of  my  ignorance,  I  acknowledged  that  I  had 
never  heard  of  Mr.  Spence. 

Miss  Kingsley  gave  a  little  gasp,  and  looked 
amused. 

"  Virginia  !  I  am  astonished,"  exclaimed  Aunt 
Agnes.  "  Your  father  gave  me  to  understand 
that  you  had  been  spending  a  portion  of  the 
summer  in  self-improvement.  Mr.  Spence  is 
one  of  the  most  original  thinkers  in  the  com 
munity.  I  cannot  believe  it  possible  that  you 
have  never  heard  of  him." 

"  Perhaps  Miss  Virginia  may  have  read  some 
of  his  poems  or  philosophy  without  knowing  the 
author,"  suggested  Miss  Kingsley.  "  You  must 
surely  have  heard  of  his  '  Essay  on  the  Economy 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  85 

of  Speech,'  which  in  my  opinion  is  the  most 
sympathetic  thing  he  has  done." 

"  One  of  the  most  valuable  contributions  to 
the  literature  of  pure  thought  that  we  have  had 
in  many  years,"  said  Aunt  Agnes. 

I  shook  my  head. 

"  Permit  me,"  said  Miss  Kingsley,  fumbling  in 
a  little  reticule  on  her  lap  and  taking  therefrom 
one  of  several  cards,  which  she  handed  to  me. 

"  This  is  a  schedule  of  his  new  course  of  lec 
tures  on  Moderation.  He  regards  moderation 
as  the  most  valuable  virtue  of  our  civilization, 
and  is  devoting  his  life  to  the  promulgation  of 
its  importance." 

The  printed  card  read  as  follows :  — 

LECTURES. 

HAWTHORNE  ROOMS. 

SIX    SUCCESSIVE    SATURDAYS, 

BEGINNING   DECEMBER   THE   TWENTY-EIGHTH. 
BY  CHARLES  LI  VERSACE   SPENCE. 


MODERATION. 

December  28.  General  View  of  the  Subject. 
January  4.  Tension  and  Torpor  of  the  Nerves. 

„  n.     The  Economy  of  Speech. 

„  18.     The  Use  and  Abuse  of  Raiment. 

„  25.  Overeating  and  Undereating. 

February  I.  Exuberance  and  Poverty  in  the  Soul. 


86  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

"  They  must  be  very  interesting,"  said  I.  It 
was  something  at  any  rate  to  get  a  peep  into 
the  charmed  circle,  even  if  I  were  too  illiterate 
to  share  its  membership ;  and  I  was  eager  to 
know  more  of  the  poet-philosopher,  as  I  rightly 
judged  him  to  be  from  Miss  Kingsley's  words. 

"  They  are  eminently  suggestive,"  said  she. 

"You  know  him  well  I  suppose." 

"Mr.  Spence?  Yes.  If  I  may  say  so,"  she 
simpered,  with  a  rapid  movement  of  her  eyes, 
"  your  aunt  and  I  were  among  the  first  to  find 
him  out." 

"  Is  he  young?  " 

"  Just  thirty.  He  celebrated  his  birthday  only 
a  fortnight  ago.  It  was  on  that  occasion  that  his 
'  Sonnet  to  Alpha'  first  saw  the  light." 

"  Is  he  good-looking?"  I  inquired  somewhat 
ill  advisedly,  for  Aunt  Agnes  made  a  gesture  of 
impatience. 

"  His  face  is  intellectual  rather  than  hand 
some,"  answered  Miss  Kingsley.  "  Its  expression 
is  very  striking  and  versatile.  Fine,  piercing 
eyes  and  waving  hair,  which  he  wears  long.  An 
intense  individuality.  But  I  should  scarcely  call 
him  beautiful ;  interesting  and  highly  sympathet 
ic  in  appearance  seems  to  me  a  more  accurate 
description." 


A    ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  87 

"  If  you  mean  by  '  good-looking '  to  inquire 
if  he  is  a  fop,  Virginia,  you  had  better  be 
undeceived  on  that  score  at  once,"  said  Aunt 
Agnes,  with  a  toss  of  her  head.  "  I  don't  sup 
pose  Mr.  Spence  has  ever  danced  the  German 
in  his  life." 

"  He  is  very  particular  about  late  hours,"  said 
Miss  Kingsley;  "that  is  a  part  of  his  system. 
He  believes  in  moderation  in  all  things,  sleep 
as  well  as  the  contrary.  He  almost  invariably 
retires  before  eleven,  but  he  rises  after  eight 
hours  of  rest.  He  considers  either  more  or  less 
as  deleterious  to  health.  I  am  inclined  to  think 
though,  if  Miss  Harlan  'will  excuse  my  correct 
ing  her,"  she  continued  turning  to  Aunt  Agnes, 
"  that  he  has  once  or  twice  in  his  life  danced 
the  German ;  for  he  has  told  me  that  in  order 
to  develop  his  theory  intelligently  he  has  been 
obliged  to  study  extremes.  The  happy  mean 
cannot  of  course  be  estimated  so  intelligently 
by  one  who  is  without  personal  experience  of 
the  overmuch  or  undcrmuch  he  reprobates. 
Those  are  his  own  phrases  for  expressing  ex 
cess  or  undue  limitation,  and  to  me  they  seem 
exquisite  specimens  of  nomenclature.  But  as 
I  was  saying,  Mr.  Spence  has  in  the  course  of 
his  investigations  sampled,  if  I  may  so  speak, 


88  A   ROMANTIC    YOUNG  LADY. 

almost  every  sensation  or  series  of  sensations 
to  which  human  nature  is  susceptible.  For 
instance,  he  once  spent  the  night  in  a  tomb,  so 
as  to  experience  what  he  has  so  exquisitely 
styled  in  a  poem  on  the  subject  '  the  extremity 
of  doleful  comprehension.'  You  were  alluding 
to  the  lines  only  yesterday,  Miss  Harlan." 

"They  are  Miltonic  in  their  grim  power,"  said 
Aunt  Agnes. 

"  Then  again,  he  lived  upon  dog  and  horse 
during  the  time  of  the  Commune  at  Paris.  He 
says  it  was  worth  the  experience  of  an  ordinary 
lifetime  as  illustrating  the  crucial  test  of  dis 
comfort.  So  in  like  manner  he  has  experienced 
the  extremes  of  luxury  and  pleasure.  I  have 
been  given  to  understand  that  he  even  felt  it  his 
duty  to  intoxicate  himself  upon  one  occasion,  in 
order  to  be  able  to  demolish  more  conclusively 
the  arguments  of  either  form  of  intemperance ; 
for  he  considers  total  abstinence  as  almost,  if  not 
quite,  on  a  level  with  over  indulgence.  One's 
instinct  of  course  shrinks  at  first  from  the  idea 
of  a  deliberate  clouding  of  the  senses  being  ever 
pardonable,  but  the  more  one  examines  the 
matter  the  more  innocent  does  it  appear;  and 
I  freely  admit  that  I  have  come  to  regard  an 
offence  against  morals  committed  in  the  interest 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  89 

of  science  as  not  only  excusable,  but  in  some 
cases  a  positive  duty." 

"  But,"  said  Aunt  Agnes,  taking  up  the  thread 
of  her  previous  remark  for  my  further  edifica 
tion,  "  however  Mr.  Spence  may  have  conducted 
himself  in  the  past  for  the  sake  of  discipline,  his 
habits  to-day  are  essentially  sober  and  serious." 

"  Oh,  dear,  yes!"  exclaimed  Miss  Kingsley; 
"  he  is  intensely  in  earnest,  and  discountenances 
all  mere  vanities  of  life.  And  yet,  withal,  it  is  his 
aim  to  pursue  the  happy  mean.  He  believes 
in  rational  amusements,  and  is  very  sympathetic 
in  congenial  society.  If  you  have  no  pleasanter 
engagement  for  next  Wednesday  evening,  Miss 
Virginia,  I  shall  be  charmed  to  have  you  take  tea 
with  me  at  my  rooms  in  the  Studio  Building.  I 
expect  Mr.  Spence  and  one  or  two  other  friends 
to  be  present." 

"  With  great  pleasure,"  I  answered;  and  I  felt 
quite  elated  by  the  invitation.  My  ambition  to 
form  new  associations  was  about  to  be  realized 
apparently. 

"  I  have  hopes  that  Mr.  Spence  will  consent  to 
illustrate  his  theory  of  the  Economy  of  Speech 
on  that  evening,"  continued  Miss  Kingsley.  "As 
yet  the  science  is  in  embryo,  and  naturally  but 
a  very  small  number  of  people  are  sufficiently 


90  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

familiar  with  the  practical  details  of  the  theory 
to  make  it  advisable  to  adopt  it  in  general  con 
versation.  But  with  sympathetic  friends  he  may 
feel  disposed  to  make  the  experiment." 

"  You  are  extremely  fortunate,  Virginia,"  said 
Aunt  Agnes,  with  emphasis. 

"  I  should  try  in  vain  to  be  worthy  of  such  an 
opportunity;  but  I  am  very  much  obliged  to 
you,  Miss  Kingsley,"  I  answered  humbly. 

"  You  will  soon  learn,"  she  said,  rising  to  go. 
"  I  am  so  glad  to  have  had  the  pleasure  of  meet 
ing  you  at  last.  I  have  alluded  to  you  in  my 
column  on  one  or  two  occasions,  but  this  is  the 
first  time  I  have  had  the  gratification  of  seeing 
you  in  person.  Perhaps  you  can  tell  me,"  she 
continued,  still  holding  my  hand,  "  whether  there 
is  any  truth  in  the  reported  engagement  of  our 
Miss  Leonard  to  Mr.  Clarence  Butterfield.  And 
if  you  happen  to  know  who  are  to  be  the  brides 
maids  at  the  wedding  of  Miss  Newton,  of  Phila 
delphia,  to  our  Mr.  Lester,  I  shall  consider  it 
very  friendly  of  you  to  tell  me." 

This  made  me  feel  very  uncomfortable,  for  I 
could  not  decide  on  the  spur  of  the  moment 
whether  it  would  be  more  charitable  to  my 
friends  to  tell  the  truth,  or  to  remain  silent  and 
let  their  affairs  be  garbled. 


A    ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  91 

"  I  want  to  put  in  something,"  she  urged, 
noticing  my  hesitation.  "  I  shall  either  contra 
dict  or  confirm  the  report  of  the  engagement 
in  our  next  issue.  Of  course,  artistically  it 
makes  little  difference  to  me  which ;  but  it  is 
much  more  satisfactory  to  the  immediate  friends 
to  have  an  item  correct,  —  just  as  the  friends  of 
a  person  who  sits  for  a  portrait  prefer  to  have 
the  likeness  speaking,  whereas  to  the  painter  it 
is  much  more  important  whether  the  tout  ensem 
ble  is  a  work  of  art.  To  obtain  a  portrait  one 
can  always  have  recourse  to  the  photographer ; 
and  so  to  insure  mere  accuracy  in  a  social 
jotting,  it  is  easy  to  pay  for  it  as  an  advertise 
ment.  But  artists  stand  upon  a  different  foot 
ing.  Am  I  clear?  And  I  trust  that  you  agree 
with  me.  It  will  do  just  as  well  on  Wednesday; 
and  if  you  should  hear  any  other  items  of  in 
terest  in  my  line,  please  note  them.  You  have 
no  idea  of  the  competition  I  have  to  encounter. 
Some  artists  go  so  far  as  to  invent  their  material, 
but  it  is  not  considered  strictly  professional. 
Well,  I  must  run  along.  Don't  forget,  Wednes 
day  at  eight,"  and  Miss  Kingsley  whisked  out 
of  the  room,  leaving  me  in  a  dazed  condition. 

The  collection  of  social  gossip  was  apparently 
her  regular  business,  which  she  not  only  was 


92  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

ready  to  acknowledge,  but  gloried  in, — just  as  a 
merchant  might  take  pride  in  his  bargains,  or  a 
lawyer  in  his  arguments.  There  was  a  certain 
savor  of  self-reliance  and  proprietorship  in  her 
use  of  the  word  "  our,"  by  which  it  was  evident 
to  me,  though  I  was  sadly  puzzled  at  first,  that 
she  distinguished  Bostonians  from  those  who 
lived  elsewhere.  But  horrified  as  I  was  by  the 
general  idea  of  such  a  calling,  I  could  not  help 
feeling  amused,  and  even  rather  admired  Miss 
Kingsley's  independence  and  enterprising  spirit. 
She  was  a  shade  vulgar  to  be  sure,  but  in  my 
present  frame  of  mind  I  was  disposed  to  rank 
intellectual  superiority  above  mere  refinement 
of  manner.  I  believed  that  Miss  Kingsley,  al 
though  but  a  few  years  older  than  myself,  could 
put  me  to  the  blush  in  the  matter  of  literary 
attainments  and  general  information. 

Aunt  Agnes  was  plainly  of  that  opinion,  for 
she  aroused  me  from  my  reflections  by  the 
remark,  — 

"  A  rare  opportunity  is  afforded  you,  Vir 
ginia,  for  mental  discipline.  I  can  see  that  Miss 
Kingsley  has  taken  a  fancy  to  you.  She  is  not 
a  person  who  goes  off  at  a  tangent.  She  must 
have  discerned  capabilities  for  culture  in  you, 
or  she  would  never  have  invited  you  to  one 


A    ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  93 

of  her  entertainments.  To  you,  who  are  accus 
tomed  to  society  fine  speeches  that  mean  noth 
ing,  it  will  probably  occur  that  she  is  asking 
you  on  my  account.  Nothing  of  the  sort 
There  is  not  an  ounce  of  affectation  in  her. 
She  has  asked  you  because  she  wants  you  ;  and 
I  can  only  add  that  if  you  neglect  after  this  to 
seek  improvement,  you  will  be  guilty  of  a  delib 
erate  sacrifice  of  talents  for  which  there  can  be 
no  excuse.  Yes,  talents.  There  is  no  use  in 
mincing  matters;  you  have  talents.  I  have 
always  thought  so,  which  is  the  reason  why  I 
have  taken  so  much  trouble  to  keep  you  from 
evil  courses.  Your  father  has  given  me  to 
understand  that  you  have  begun  to  listen  to  the 
voice  of  experience.  I  tried  to  save  you  from 
experience  by  counsel,  but  you  scoffed  at  my 
words.  You  have  providentially  had  your 
eyes  opened  before  it  was  too  late.  You  have 
suffered,  and  I  do  not  wish  to  add  to  your  mor 
tification  by  reproach.  Let  by-gones  be  by 
gones,  and  I  trust  to  hear  no  more  of  Mr.  Gale 
and  his  associates." 

"  Dale,  Aunt  Agnes,"  I  said  firmly. 

She  shrugged  her  shoulders  impatiently. 
"  What  difference  does  it  make  whether  it  is 
Dale  or  Gale?  You  heard  what  Miss  Kingsley 


94  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

said  just  now  about  the  unimportance  of  accu 
racy  in  trivial  matters.  You  knew  perfectly 
well  whom  I  meant.  Let  me  caution  you  again, 
Virginia,  against  an  undue  estimate  of  ceremony 
and  form.  It  is  the  spirit  that  is  of  value,  not 
the  mere  letter.  Especially  should  you  bear 
this  in  mind  in  the  society  of  such  people  as 
you  will  meet  on  Wednesday  evening.  The 
world  is  a  large  place,  and  only  in  the  circle 
in  which  you  have  been  brought  up  is  exces 
sive  regard  paid  to  insignificant  details.  Sensi 
ble  people  have  other  things  to  think  about." 

"Does  Mr.  Spence  belong  to  Boston?"  I 
asked,  anxious  to  find  out  all  I  could  about 
the  celebrity. 

But  this  remark  was  not  more  happy  than  the 
last.  Aunt  Agnes  pursed  up  her  lips  and  said,  — 

"  If  you  mean,  was  he  born  in  Beacon  Street, 
no,  he  was  not.  Dreadful  as  it  may  seem  to 
you,  I  know  nothing  of  either  his  father  or  his 
mother.  But  you  will  learn  when  you  are  a 
little  wiser,  that  genius  in  order  to  be  recog 
nized  and  admired  is  not  obliged  to  produce 
parents." 

"You  misunderstood  me,  Aunt  Agnes.  I 
merely  wished  to  know  if  he  were  a  foreigner 
or  not." 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  95 

"  He  has  lived  everywhere  I  believe,  and  is 
cosmopolitan,  as  all  great  men  are.  He  is  one 
of  the  few  characters  really  worth  knowing  in 
our  community.  His  philosophic  and  hygienic 
thoughts  surpass  his  poetry  in  worth,  in  the 
opinion  of  the  best  judges." 

"And  Miss  Kingslcy,  —  does  she  write  at  all?" 
"  Certainly.     Did  she  not  tell  you  that  she  is 
the  compiler  of  the  weekly  column  of  fashion 
able  items  in  the  'Sunday  Mercury'?" 

"Yes,"  said  I,  "but  that  is  scarcely  literature." 
Aunt  Agnes  did  not  answer  for  a  moment. 
"  You  have  judged  hastily,  and  consequently 
have  misjudged.  If  you  were  to  ask  me  whether 
I  think  Miss  Kingsley's  present  occupation  is 
proportionate  to  her  abilities,  I  should  answer 
'  no.'  She  would  herself  admit  that  it  was  hack 
work,  —  though,  mind  you,  even  hack-work  can 
be  redeemed  by  an  artistic  spirit,  as  she  has  so 
adequately  explained  to  you.  All  young  wo 
men  have  not  independent  fortunes,  and  such 
as  are  without  means  are  obliged  to  take  what 
ever  they  can  find  to  do  in  the  line  of  their  pro 
fessions.  I  agree  with  your  implication  that 
society  items  do  not  constitute  literature,  but 
they  are  stepping  stones  to  higher  things. 
Which  is  the  more  creditable,  pray,  to  collect 


96  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

and  chronicle  the  social  customs  of  the  age  in 
which  you  live,  foolish  as  they  may  be,  or  to  be 
one  of  the  giddy  and  frivolous  creatures  whose 
doings  are  thus  compiled  as  a  warning  to  pos- 
terity.jror  to  excite  its  jeers?  The  one  is  work, 
earnest  though  humble ;  the  other,  a  sheer  dis 
sipation  of  the  energies  of  life." 

I  felt  that  this  was  aimed  at  me ;  but  as  I  made 
no  response,  Aunt  Agnes  continued :  — 

"  Do  not  mistake  my  meaning  now,  and  say 
that  I  wish  you  to  become  a  collector  of  fash 
ionable  information.  On  the  contrary,  I  should 
much  regret  to  see  you  anything  of  the  kind. 
By  the  very  circumstance  that  Providence  has 
given  you  the  means  to  pick  and  choose,  you  are 
marked  out  for  work  of  a  less  superficial  order. 
But  you  must  not  under-value  others  who  are 
less  able  to  consult  their  own  preferences.  Miss 
Kingsley  is  a  young  woman  of  decided  capabili 
ties  for  original  composition.  Mr.  Spence  has 
spoken  to  me  of  her  in  terms  of  the  highest 
praise.  Because  she  is  obliged  for  her  sup 
port  to  cater  to  the  popular  taste  for  social 
intelligence,  it  by  no  means  follows  that  she 
does  not  employ  her  spare  hours  to  better 
advantage.  I  shall  not  violate  any  confiden 
ces  I  may  have  received,  in  saying  that  Miss 


A    ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  97 

Kingsley  is   capable  of  literary  production    of 
a  high  order." 

"  But,"  said  I  after  a  moment's  silence,  "  you 
cannot  approve  of  the  custom  of  putting 
the  private  affairs  of  people  into  print,  Aunt 
Agnes?" 

"  It  is  preferable  at  least  to  wasting  the  best 
years  of  one's  life  in  fashionable  folly,"  she  re 
plied  with  some  asperity. 

As  I  saw  it  would  be  hopeless  to  pursue  the 
conversation  on  this  head  without  danger  of  fur 
ther  disagreement,  I  rose  to  take  my  leave.  But 
when  I  stooped  to  kiss  her,  she  took  me  by  the 
hand  and  said  with  much  seriousness,  but  with  a 
purpose  to  be  kindly,  — 

"I  have  much  greater  hopes,  Virginia,  I 
frankly  confess,  regarding  the  stability  of  your 
character  than  when  I  last  conversed  with  you. 
You  may  depend  on  whatever  assistance  lies  in 
my  power;  but  let  me  impress  upon  you  that 
the  cultivation  which  your  talents  befit  you  to 
attain,  cannot  be  reached  without  strenuous 
exertions  on  your  own  part." 

"  I  shall  do  all  I  can  to  make  the  most  of  my  ad 
vantages,  Aunt  Agnes, you  may  depend  upon  it; 
and  I  thank  you  heartily  for  your  offer  of  help. 
I  hope  I  have  done  with  frivolity  forever." 
7 


98  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

"  My  niece  marry  a  whipper-snapper  like  that 
Mr.  Gale,  indeed  !  Tell  me  !  " 

I  had  not  the  hardihood  to  correct  her  again, 
and  so  we  parted. 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  99 


II. 


V\7EDNESDAY  was  only  the  day  after  to 
morrow,  but  in  the  interim  I  bought  a 
copy  of  Mr.  Spence's  Poems  and  also  his  volume 
of  Essays,  which  contained  "  The  Economy  of 
Speech,"  "  The  Overmuch  and  the  Undermuch," 
and  "  The  Equipoise  of  Passion,"  the  last-named 
being  an  exposition  of  the  selfishness  of  unlimited 
love.  His  poems,  which  were  for  the  most  part 
written  in  early  youth,  were  in  striking  contrast 
to  the  essays  in  tone.  Indeed,  in  the  extracts 
from  the  newspaper  criticisms  prefixed  to  the 
volume  of  verse  he  was  in  several  instances 
spoken  of  as  the  Baudelaire  of  America.  They 
were  alternately  morbid  and  convivial  in  style, 
and  were  concerned  largely  with  death,  the 
rapture  of  the  wine-cup,  or  the  bitterness  of 
unreciprocated  attachment.  I  was  inclined  to 
be  shocked  at  the  outset,  for  I  had  never  read 
anything  of  the  sort  before,  as  Baudelaire  was 
then  merely  a  name  to  me.  I  even  took  the 
book  to  my  own  room  from  an  unwillingness  to 


100  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

leave  it  lying  on  the  parlor  table.  But  after  the 
first  surprise  and  qualms  I  found  myself  rather 
fascinated  by  the  unusual  nature  of  the  man. 
At  one  moment  he  appeared  to  be  flushed  with 
ecstasy,  and  the  next  in  the  depths,  —  an  alterna 
tive  so  opposed  to  the  tenor  of  his  later  philo 
sophy  that  I  was  fairly  puzzled,  until  I  reflected 
that  these  poems  had  undoubtedly  been  com 
posed  during  his  novitiate,  while  he  was  testing 
the  extremes  of  life.  It  was  obvious,  if  his  verse 
was  any  criterion,  that  he  had  been  very  thorough 
in  his  investigations,  and  that  Miss  Kingsley's 
estimate  of  his  offences  against  morality  was  not 
an  over-statement,  to  say  the  least.  But  my 
curiosity  was  aroused  to  meet  a  person  whose 
ideas  and  experiences  were  so  signally  unlike 
my  own,  especially  in  view  of  the  seeming  total 
transition  of  his  sentiments  as  portrayed  in  his 
subsequent  prose  writings.  I  thought  them  a 
little  vague,  but  extremely  interesting.  The 
skeleton  of  his  system  was  unfolded  in  the 
essay  on  the  "  Overmuch  and  the  Undermuch." 
Therein  he  sought  to  show  in  a  general  way  the 
advantages  of  moderation.  Nothing  overmuch 
was  the  key-note  of  his  theory,  —  an  aphorism 
which  found  an  analogy  in  the  old  Greek  motto 
ovSev  ayav,  which  he  adduced  to  prove  the 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  IOI 

antiquity  of  the  virtue,  little  as  it  had  been  prac 
tised.  He  represented  moderation  as  the  great 
principle  upon  which  the  future  progress  of 
civilization  depended.  Without  heed  to  the 
restrictions  which  it  imposed,  human  nature 
must  despair  of  perfection.  He  ventured  to 
predict  that  rigorous  self-restraint,  continued 
through  successive  generations,  would  appreci 
ably  lengthen  the  average  duration  of  life,  and 
although  without  more  sufficient  data  it  would 
be  incautious  to  make  extravagant  claims,  it 
seemed  to  him  by  no  means  improbable  that 
death  might  in  the  end  be  conquered,  or  at  least 
indefinitely  postponed.  The  science  was  as  yet 
embryonic,  and  until  the  general  interest  of  the 
world  in  its  development  had  been  awakened, 
investigation  in  order  to  be  trustworthy  must 
needs  be  slow. 

Treating  the  subject  in  detail,  he  applied  his 
theory  to  various  departments  of  life.  His  own 
investigations  he  alleged  to  be  still  very  incom 
plete,  and  in  this  first  volume  he  had  only 
touched  upon  two  subdivisions,  —  conversation 
and  love,  the  presentation  of  his  ideas  regard 
ing  which  were  contained  in  the  essays  already 
spoken  of,  "  The  Economy  of  Speech,"  and  "  The 
Equipoise  of  Passion."  In  the  first  named  of 


102  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

these  he  laid  down  as  a  broad  general  statement 
that  some  people  talk  too  much  and  others  too 
little.  Here,  as  in  other  functions,  either  extreme 
was  disastrous.  Prolixity  of  speech  produced 
avoidance  of  the  offender,  and  silence  tended  to 
syncope  of  the  language.  The  causes  of  either 
fault  were  in  his  opinion  far  to  seek,  and  lay  less 
in  the  nature  of  the  individual  than  in  the  es 
sence  of  orthography  and  diction.  Tautology 
was  the  blemish  of  written  and  vocal  speech. 
Too  many  symbols  were  used  to  express  an 
idea,  and  nothing  was  left  to  the  imagination  of 
the  reader  or  hearer.  Redundancy  of  expres 
sion  was  the  vade  mecum  of  the  bore,  and  on  the 
other  hand  there  was  no  reason  to  believe  .that 
the  sound  of  their  own  words  was  the  cause  why 
many  people  were  so  silent.  It  was  common  to 
hear  that  a  man  was  afraid  to  hear  himself  talk. 
By  reducing  therefore  the  signs  of  speech,  a 
stimulus  would  be  given  to  the  reserved  and 
a  curb  imposed  upon  the  verbose. 

The  primary  principle  employed  to  effect  this 
was  ellipsis,  but  an  accurate  understanding  of 
the  intelligence  of  the  hearer  was  requisite  in 
order  to  become  proficient.  The  alphabet  was 
not  disturbed  or  abbreviated.  The  radical 
change  was  in  the  dismemberment  of  sentences. 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  103 

And  here  it  was  obvious  that  a  greater  number 
of  words  could  be  omitted  without  destroying 
the  sense  with  a  clever  listener  than  with  a  dull 
person.  His  statistics  showed  that  two  indi 
viduals  thoroughly  conversant  with  the  system 
could  discourse  rationally  upon  intricate  topics 
by  the  use  of  single  words  and  even  single  mono 
syllables  in  place  of  entire  sentences;  and  this 
led  him  to  believe  that  as  the  race  grew  in  in 
telligence,  speech  would  finally  become  a  rudi 
mentary  organ  and  cease  to  be.  Nor  was  this 
inconsistent  with  his  general  theory ;  for  in  his 
opinion  the  gradual  tendency  of  all  mere  physi 
cal  attributes  was  to  coalesce  with  mind.  In  an 
analogous  way  the  time  would  come  when  man 
kind  instead  of  eating  too  much  or  too  little  would 
not  eat  at  all.  But  the  first  stage  in  this  gradual 
evolution  must  be  a  repression  of  extremes  re 
sulting  in  moderation.  It  was  to  effect  a  recog 
nition  of  this  that  his  labors  were  directed. 

I  expected  to  be  even  more  interested  in  the 
essay  on  "The  Equipoise  of  Passion,"  remem 
bering  the  intense  character  of  his  amatory 
verse.  But  the  philosophical  terms  were  so 
numerous  that  I  found  myself  at  a  loss  as  to  his 
meaning  at  times.  His  treatment  of  the  subject 
was  quite  different;  for  whereas  (he  explained) 


104  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

speech  was  a  physical  attribute  and  destined  to 
give  place  to  some  other  method  of  affinity, 
love  was  psychical  in  its  essence,  and  hence 
immortal.  But  he  maintained  that  moderation 
should  control  spirit  no  less  than  matter,  and 
that  either  undue  exaltation  or  a  lack  of  senti 
ment  were  inconsistent  with  the  noblest  type 
of  altruism. 

Love  in  order  to  be  perfect  must  be  rational 
and  cognizant,  as  he  expressed  it.  The  beloved 
object  should  be  enthroned,  but  without  exag 
geration,  and  yet  with  ecstasy.  The  defect  of 
love  as  it  at  present  existed  was  that  it  was 
either  an  hallucination  or  a  bargain.  This 
should  not  be ;  but  on  the  other  hand  the  equi 
poise  of  passion  like  the  equipoise  of  religion,  — 
of  which  it  was  in  his  opinion  the  peer,  and  with 
which  it  was  in  a  certain  sense  blended,  —  was 
attainable  only  by  exceptional  souls.  The  equi 
poise  of  speech  or  of  raiment  or  of  appetite  was 
within  the  grasp  of  an  average  human  being, 
but  only  a  few  spirits  in  a  generation  enjoyed 
the  perfection  of  love.  This  was  the  crown  of 
his  philosophy ;  but  it  was  here  that  he  felt  the 
need  of  further  investigation  before  endeavor 
ing  to  demonstrate  the  remedy  by  means  of 
which  this  number  might  be  increased,  so  as 


A  ROMANTIC  YOUNG  LADY.  105 

finally  to  include  all  earnest  souls.  An  imma 
ture  statement  would  impair  the  authority  of 
the  more  elemental  truth  he  had  sought  to 
establish ;  but  he  hoped  in  a  subsequent  volume 
to  complete  the  exposition  of  this  last  step  in 
his  system. 


106  A  ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 


III. 

T  RAPPED  at  Miss  Kingsley's  door  on  Wednes- 
day  evening  with  some  trepidation,  but  with 
a  sense  of  pleasurable  excitement.  I  felt  that 
her  entertainment  was  sure  to  be  very  unlike 
those  to  which  I  was  accustomed.  In  the  first 
place,  the  idea  of  combining  home  and  business 
quarters  in  one  apartment  was  new  to  me,  and 
seemed  slightly  incongruous.  The  Studio  Build 
ing  was  large,  and  she  had  doubtless  a  host  of 
neighbors  who  lived  in  the  same  manner;  but 
they  were  a  class  with  whom  I  was  wholly  un 
acquainted.  Miss  Kingsley's  rooms  were  in  the 
top  story  where,  as  I  reflected,  she  could  enjoy 
fresh  air  and  escape  the  everlasting  tinkling  of 
the  horse-cars  and  rattle  of  vehicles  in  the  street 
below. 

She  opened  the  door  herself,  and  her  face 
assumed  its  most  radiant  expression  as  she 
recognized  me. 

"  This  is  too  delightful,  Miss  Harlan  !  " 
I    found    myself   face    to    face   with   several 
people  whom  she  hastened  to  introduce.     The 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  107 

only  familiar  name  was  that  of  Mr.  Paul  Barr, 
which  I  instantly  recollected  to  have  seen  on 
the  dedicatory  page  of  Mr.  Spence's  volume  of 
poems.  The  inscription  read,  "  To  my  soul's 
brother,  Paul  Barr,"  and  hence  I  gazed  at  the 
stranger  with  interest. 

From  Mr.  Barr  I  got  the  impression  of  a 
handsome  but  dishevelled  looking  man  of  large 
stature,  with  a  coal-black  beard  and  dark  pierc 
ing  eyes,  which  he  bent  upon  me  ardently  as  he 
bowed  his  figure  in  what  might  well  be  styled 
a  profound  and  lavish  obeisance.  He  wore  a 
velveteen  coat  and  a  large  cherry  neck-tie,  the 
flowing  ends  of  which  added  to  his  general 
air  of  disorder.  The  other  names  —  to  which 
I  gave  slight  heed,  for  their  owners  were  not 
especially  significant  in  appearance — were  Mr. 
Fleisch,  a  short,  small  German  with  eye-glasses, 
and  Mrs.  Marsh,  a  fat,  genial  matron  of  five- 
and-forty. 

All  this  I  took  in  at  a  glance,  for  Miss  Kings- 
ley  conducted  me  immediately  into  her  boudoir 
(as  she  called  it),  to  lay  aside  my  wraps. 

"  Has  he  not  soulful  eyes?  "  she  asked. 

"  Who?  "  said  I,  though  I  knew  to  whom  she 
must  refer. 

"  Mr.  Barr." 


108  A  ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

"What  is  he?"  said  I. 

"A  Bohemian,  dear,"  she  replied  in  a  tone  of 
satisfaction. 

"Really?" 

I  had  long  wished  to  meet  a  member  of  that 
mysterious  brotherhood,  of  which  of  course  I 
had  heard  and  read. 

"  Yes.  He  is  a  poet-painter,  and  a  great 
friend  of  Mr.  Spence.  Have  you  never  seen 
his  pictures?  Even  Mr.  Spence  admits  that 
they  possess  the  abandon  of  genius,  although  he 
disapproves  of  abandon.  Their  views  to-day  are 
totally  dissimilar,  but  yet  their  friendship  is  sym 
pathetic  as  ever.  Is  it  not  inspiring?" 

"  Mr.  Spence  is  coming,  I  hope?" 

"  Oh,  yes.  I  expect  him  every  moment,  and  I 
have  made  Mr.  Barr  promise  to  get  him  to  give 
us  an  exposition.  Not  knowing  how  you  might 
feel,  Virginia  (may  I  call  you  Virginia?  It  seems 
so  much  more  natural  after  having  heard  your 
aunt  always  speak  of  you  in  that  way.  Thank 
you,  dear.  And  if  you  will  call  me  Lucretia,  I 
shall  feel  much  flattered),  —  not  knowing  how 
you  might  feel  about  coming  where  there  was 
no  matron,  I  asked  Mrs.  Marsh  to  join  us.  We 
do  not  regard  it  of  importance,  and  you  will  not 
a  little  later;  but  just  at  first  it  is  perhaps  as 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.          109 

well.  Do  you  know  Mr.  Fleisch  by  reputation? 
He  plays  with  an  artistic  charm,  rare  even  in  this 
musical  epoch.  He  is  a  follower  of  Mr.  Spence, 
and  is  seeking  to  apply  his  principles  of  modera 
tion  to  music  with  striking  success.  Ah !  you 
must  excuse  me,  dear,  it  is  his  knock." 

I  understood  that  she  referred  to  Mr.  Spence, 
and  I  waited  an  instant  to  put  a  finishing  touch 
to  my  toilet  before  following  her  into  the  other 
room.  For  I  had  still  something  of  the  old 
Adam,  or  rather  of  the  old  Eve,  left  in  me ;  so 
that  I  must  confess  my  eagerness  for  culture 
was  not  without  a  spice  of  coquetry,  half  un 
conscious  though  it  were. 

Mr.  Spence  from  his  appearance  was  fairly 
entitled  to  be  called  a  moderationist.  He  had 
nothing  of  the  splendid  savagery  of  Mr.  Paul 
Barr,  whose  luxuriant  and  matted  head  of  hair 
now  struck  my  attention,  nor  the  student-like 
insignificance  of  Mr.  Fleisch.  He  was  neither 
tall  nor  short,  stout  nor  inadequately  spare ; 
and  he  was  in  evening  dress  like  anybody  else. 
Had  I  met  him  without  knowing  who  he  was, 
I  should  never  have  imagined  him  a  celeb 
rity.  This  was  my  first  impression,  but  a  sec 
ond  look  at  his  face  revealed  firm  though  thin 
lips,  and  small  nervous  eyes  that  were  full  of 


110  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

fire  when  in  movement.  It  was  not  however 
until  I  heard  him  speak  that  I  recovered  from 
my  disappointment.  "  Be  it  so,"  was  all  he  said 
in  reply  to  some  remark  addressed  to  him ;  but 
the  enunciation  of  the  words  was  so  musical, 
so  soft  and  winning,  yet  so  clear  and  author 
itative,  that  I  was  spell-bound  for  an  instant  and 
quite  lost  my  composure  as  Miss  Kingsley, 
becoming  aware  of  my  presence,  proceeded  to 
make  us  acquainted. 

The  backs  .of  all  the  company  except  Mr. 
Spence  had  been  turned  to  me,  for  Mr.  Barr  was 
fulfilling  his  promise  of  persuading  his  friend  to 
introduce  his  system  of  speech  as  the  order  of  the 
evening.  The  ecstatic  expression  of  Miss  Kings- 
ley's  face,  as  well  as  the  few  words  I  had  heard 
him  utter,  were  sufficient  to  show  that  he  had 
been  successful ;  but  winking  her  eyes  more 
rapidly  than  ever  she  whispered  in  my  ear 
with  an  imitation  as  I  thought  of  her  master's 
style,  — 

"  It  is  to  be." 

Almost  immediately  Mr.  Spence,  whose  bow 
I  had  thought  rather  formal  and  like  that  of  the 
rest  of  the  world,  came  up  to  me  and  said :  — 

"  Welcome,  Miss  Harlan,  to  our  circle.  I 
know  your  aunt,  —  a  massive  woman  intellect- 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  ill 

ually,  and  my  benefactor.  As  I  think  our 
hostess  has  already  intimated  to  you,  it  is  the 
wish  of  some  of  the  company  that  I  should 
give  a  practical  illustration  of  certain  views  re 
garding  the  essence  of  speech  peculiar  to  me, 
of  which  it  may  be  you  have  heard  from  your 
kinswoman  or  others,  and  which  are  a  corollary 
of  the  general  truth  or  virtue  known  to  the  out 
side  world  as  moderation.  I  have,  however, 
some  delicacy  in  inflicting  so  great  an  incubus 
—  for  it  must  seem  such  to  the  uninitiated  — 
upon  one  who  like  you  is  of  the  beau  monde  and 
used  to  its  smooth  ways.  I  speak  knowingly, 
for  I  too  in  my  day  belonged  to  the  beau  monde, 
and  am  familiar  with  the  easy,  however  volatile, 
flow  of  speech  incident  thereto." 

"  Do  not  mind  me,  I  pray,"  said  I.  "  Indeed, 
I  have  read  your  essays  as  well  as  your  poems, 
Mr.  Spence,  and  am  very  anxious  to  understand 
your  system  practically." 

"  Be  it  so,"  he  replied.  "  I  did  not  wish  to  in 
flict  myself  unduly.  Art  should  be  sensitive. 
Do  you  not  agree  with  me,  Miss  Harlan?" 

"  How  exquisite !  "  I  heard  Miss  Kingsley 
whisper  to  Mr.  Fleisch,  with  whom  she  was 
standing  a  few  feet  distant  gazing  at  the 
master. 


112  A   ROMANTIC  YOUNG  LADY. 

It  was  Mr.  Paul  Barr  who  answered  the  ques 
tion  for  me :  — 

"  No,  Miss  Harlan,  Art  should  be  aggressive  ; 
Art  should  be  ardent.  I  do  not  agree  with 
Mr.  Spence.  In  fact,  we  never  agree  upon  any 
subject.  But  we  are  friends,  life-long,  bosom 
friends.  Shake,  Charles,  shake !  we  have  not 
given  the  grip  and  pressure  of  amity  to 
night." 

He  spoke  in  a  deep,  sonorous  base,  and  ex 
tended  to  his  friend  a  hirsute  hand. 

"  It  is  true  we  belong  to  different  schools,  Mr. 
Barr  and  I,  Miss  Harlan,"  said  Mr.  Spence. 
"  He  believes  in  the  supremacy  of  the  untram 
melled,  as  his  poems  and  pictures  show;  I,  on 
the  contrary,  give  my  voice  to  equipoise.  But, 
as  he  has  well  said,  we  are  devoted  friends." 

"  You  shall  judge  between  us,"  continued 
Paul  Barr  addressing  me.  "  Which  is  better,  the 
free  undulation  of  self,  or  eternal  tension?" 

"A  fine  antithesis,"  murmured  Miss  Kingsley. 

"  Mein  Gott !  but  it  is  not  true,  that  free 
undulation  of  self.  It  deceives,  it  deludes : 
it  is  a  —  what  word  is  it  I  am  seeking  ?  — 
a  —  eh  —  I  have  it,  —  boomerang,  —  a  boom 
erang  that  plagues  the  inventor,"  said  Mr. 
Fleisch. 


A   ROMANTIC   YOU  MS   LADY.  113 

"  Refuted,  well  refuted !  "  said  Mr.  Spence. 
"  Fleisch  has  hit  the  mark.  The  overmuch  is 
indeed  a  boomerang.  Thanks,  Bernard,  for  the 
epigram,"  he  added,  turning  to  the  little  German. 

Everybody  clapped  their  hands  except  myself 
and  Mr.  Barr.  I  preferred  to  remain  neutral. 
As  for  the  artist,  he  stood  stroking  his  beard 
fiercely  with  his  eyes  fixed  on  the  ceiling. 

At  this  moment  the  door  opened,  and  a  maid 
servant  announced  tea. 

Mr.  Spence  looked  at  Miss  Kingsley  interrog 
atively.  "  From  this  moment,  please,"  said  she. 

He  shrugged  his  shoulders  and  sighed ;  and 
as  we  walked  in  to  tea  together  Miss  Kings- 
ley  whispered  that  he  was  about  to  practise 
his  theory. 

"  Of  course,  Virginia  dear,  every  one  will  un 
derstand  that  you  are  a  novice,  and  you  will  be 
at  liberty  to  talk  in  your  natural  manner.  The 
rest  of  us  are  expected  to  assist  Mr.  Spence  as 
far  as  possible.  I  am  all  in  a  flutter;  I  know  I 
shall  break  down." 

The  room  in  which  we  took  tea  was  a  veri 
table  snuggery.  The  servant  found  it  difficult 
to  get  round  the  table,  and  there  was  a  strong 
smell  of  the  frying-pan  owing  to  the  vicinity 
of  the  tiny  kitchen.  But  these  inconveniences, 
8 


114          A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

if  they  were  so  to  be  called,  merely  added  to  my 
zest  and  enjoyment.  Here,  indeed,  was  agree 
able  and  talented  society!  Aunt  Agnes  was 
right,  —  my  associates  hitherto  had  been  frivo 
lous  and  volatile.  The  world  of  fashion  was  a 
sham.  What  a  contrast,  —  I  could  not  help 
making  it,  —  between  the  insipid  speeches  of 
my  former  friends  and  the  clever  talk  of  this 
purely  literary  circle,  where  ideas  and  scholar 
ship  were  recognized  and  crowned. 

Mr.  Spence  and  Mr  Barr  sat  on  either  side  of 
Miss  Kingsley,  and  I  glanced  from  the  one  to  the 
other,  debating  with  myself  whether  I  preferred 
the  bold  strong  beauty  of  the  artist,  or  the  subtile 
and  more  delicate  traits  of  feature  of  the  philoso 
pher.  For  though  I  had  begun  by  regarding  Mr. 
Spence  almost  as  commonplace  in  appearance, 
the  earnestness  of  his  manner  and  the  serious 
fervor  of  his  eyes  gave  him  an  expression  of  hav 
ing  a  deep  and  genuine  belief  in  his  own  theories, 
which  when  compared  with  the  impetuous  but 
more  volatile  air  of  Paul  Barr  commended  him 
to  my  respect  and  admiration  even  while  I  was 
flattered  by  the  gallantries  of  his  rival. 

It  was  Mr.  Barr  who  first  broke  the  silence 
after  we  sat  down  to  table,  by  asking  me  if  I  had 
not  passed  the  summer  at  Tinker's  Reach.  As 


A    ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  115 

he  spoke  in  the  ordinary  guise,  I  was  surprised 
until  it  occurred  to  me  that  as  a  member  of 
another  school  he  could  hardly  be  expected, 
even  from  courtesy  or  friendship,  to  practise 
doctrines  to  which  he  could  not  subscribe, 

"Yes,"  said  I. 

"  Malaria,"  began  Mr.  Spence. 

There  was  a  little  murmur  of  expectation,  and 
Mr.  Fleisch  brimming  over  with  excitement 
said,  "  Bad  drainage." 

"No  excuse.  Sea  near.  Inhabitants  should 
agitate  question,"  continued  Mr.  Spence. 

"  Everybody  appearance  of  health  notwith 
standing,"  exclaimed  Miss  Kingslcy. 

"  Overmuch  ozone,"  said  Mr.  Spence. 

"  Unhealthy  stimulus.  Reaction  later,"  added 
the  little  German. 

"Are  we  clear?  Air  of  Tinker's  Reach  you 
know ;  so  clever,"  whispered  Miss  Kingsley 
leaning  toward  me  behind  Mr.  Spence's  chair. 
"  Sure  I  shall  break  down." 

I  nodded  to  give  her  encouragement.  All 
this  was  somewhat  bewildering,  but  I  was  able 
to  follow  the  conversation.  I  was  conscious  too 
of  Mr.  Barr's  eyes  fixed  upon  me  with  intensity. 
He  would  eat  hurriedly  for  a  moment,  and  then 
fold  his  arms  and  listen  with  his  brow  almost 


ll 6  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

buried  in  his  black  bristly  beard,  and  his  glance 
centred  on  me. 

The  talk  went  on  briskly.  Mrs.  Marsh  pres 
ently  joined  in  ;  and  after  the  discussion  of  the 
atmospheric  conditions  of  Tinker's  Reach  was 
exhausted,  a  criticism  of  a  recent  volume  of 
poetry  followed,  in  which  Mr.  Fleisch  and  Mrs. 
Marsh  took  sides  against  the  other  two.  At 
times  I  lost  the  thread  of  the  argument,  but 
for  the  most  part  I  understood  them  perfectly. 
Mr.  Spence  was  by  far  the  most  proficient.  It 
was  wonderful  how  he  was  able  to  express  fre 
quently  in  a  single  word  the  idea  of  an  entire 
sentence.  I  listened  with  eager  and  increasing 
interest.  Every  now  and  then  Mr.  Barr  inter 
rupted  the  conversation  with  a  torrent  of  words, 
sometimes  by  way  of  soliloquizing  comment  on 
the  views  expressed,  and  occasionally  addressed 
to  me.  In  the  latter  case  I  always  put  my  fin 
gers  on  my  lips  and  smiled,  a  course  which  had 
the  effect  of  silencing  him  for  the  time  being. 
Meanwhile  everybody  eat  with  appetite  of  the 
good  things  provided ;  and  the  artist-poet,  as 
though  to  show  his  contempt  for  the  doctrines 
of  moderation,  helped  himself  again  and  again 
from  a  crystal  pitcher  of  claret-cup  that  was  at 
his  elbow. 


A    ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  1 1? 

Of  a  sudden,  to  my  great  consternation,  Mr. 
Spence  looked  directly  at  me  and  said,  — 

"Paris?" 

All  my  ideas  seemed  to  desert  me  on  the 
spot.  But  by  a  rapid  inspiration  I  shook  my 
head  and  said, — 

"  Never." 

"  There  during  Commune,"  continued  my 
interrogator,  and  I  saw  from  Miss  Kingsley's 
radiant  and  encouraging  smile  and  nod  that 
I  had  been  right  in  my  assumption  that  he 
wished  to  know  if  I  had  ever  been  there. 

"Really!  "  I  said,  emboldened. 

"  Grisly,"  said  he. 

"  Cat  !  "  almost  hissed  Mr.  Fleisch  in  his 
excitement. 

"Dog!"  said  Mrs.  Marsh. 

"  Horse !  "  exclaimed  Miss  Kingsley. 

Fortunately  I  recalled  what  Miss  Kingsley 
had  told  me  regarding  Mr.  Spence's  early  expe 
riences  in  search  of  extremes,  so  that  I  was  not 
as  nonplussed  as  might  perhaps  have  been  ex 
pected  by  these  ejaculations. 

"  Gruesome  !  "  I  said,  with  a  determination  to 
acquit  myself  creditably. 

"  Unsympathetic !  "  added  Miss  Kingsley, 
rather  unnecessarily  as  I  thought. 


Il8  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

"  Not  so  bad.  Lived  on  them  for  days,"  said 
Mr.  Spence,  still  addressing  me.  "  Time  of  my 
novitiate." 

"  Where  self  undulates  freely  there  is  no  novi 
tiate,  for  all  is  allowable,"  exclaimed  Paul  Barr 
fiercely ;  and  he  filled  another  goblet.  I  almost 
felt  afraid  of  his  gaze,  it  had  become  so  intense 
and  ardent.  I  tried  not  to  look  in  his  direction, 
though  there  was  an  originality  and  fascination 
about  him  that  made  it  next  to  impossible  not 
to  steal  an  occasional  glance  across  the  table. 

Mr.  Spence  held  up  his  hand  deprecatingly 
in  answer  to  his  friend's  tirade,  while  little 
Fleisch  like  a  trusty  retainer  exclaimed  once 
more  with  fierceness,  — 

"  Boomerang !  " 

Mr.  Spence  again  turned  to  me,  "  Worse ; 
night  in  tomb  !  " 

"  Beside  corpse  !  "  explained  Mr.  Fleisch. 

The  ladies  shivered. 

"  Trifle,"  murmured  Mr.  Spence. 

"  Extremity  of  doleful  comprehension  !  "  said 
Miss  Kingsley. 

I  felt  that  my  opportunity  had  come.  Car 
ried  away  as  I  was  by  the  interest  and  ex 
citement  of  the  proceedings,  I  repeated  from 
memory,  without  embarrassment,  the  first  five 


A    ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  119 

lines  of  Mr.  Spence's  poem  entitled  "  A  Frag 
ment  (written  after  a  night  passed  in  the 
grave)." 

"  I  lay  a  living  soul  within  the  tomb,  — 
A  ghastly  cabin  damp  with  church-yard  loam, 
Where  worms  are  rampant  and  where  night  enthrones 
Darkness  and  horror,  dust,  decay,  and  bones ; 
Extremity  of  doleful  comprehension." 

There  was  a  murmur  of  applause. 

"  Exquisitely  apposite !  "  cried  Mr.  Fleisch, 
and  for  the  first  time  he  surveyed  me  through 
his  eye-glass  with  evident  interest. 

Mr.  Spence  bent  forward  in  acknowledgement 
of  the  quotation.  Mrs.  Marsh  repeated  after 
her  neighbor,  — 

"  Exquisitely  apposite  !  " 

"  A  fine  passage  and  finely  rendered,"  said 
Paul  Barr;  and  he  sighed  (though  it  was  not 
obvious  why),  and  emptied  his  glass. 

I  glanced  at  my  hostess.  To  my  surprise  she 
was  examining  a  tea-cup,  and  as  she  looked  up 
I  saw  that  her  face  was  no  longer  radiant.  Our 
eyes  met,  and  in  an  instant  the  truth  flashed 
upon  me.  She  was  jealous  !  Without  design  I 
had  too  much  absorbed  the  attention  of  the  lion 
of  the  evening.  Or  was  it  Paul  Barr's  glances 
that  I  had  estranged? 


120  A    ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

For  a  moment  I  was  both  confounded  and  re 
gretful,  but  in  the  next  I  had  decided  that  her 
resentment,  if  it  were  real,  was  unjustifiable. 
Any  success  I  had  won  was  unpremeditated, 
and  there  was  no  reason  why  I  should  be  other 
wise  than  natural,  or  decline  to  use  to  the  best 
advantage  the  talents  which  Heaven  had  given 
me.  It  was  Mr.  Spence  undoubtedly  whom  my 
hostess  considered  her  especial  property.  She 
would  have  earlier  indicated  her  disapproval  had 
the  artist-poet  been  the  offender,  for  his  glances 
had  been  unmistakable  in  their  direction  from 
the  first.  I  felt  in  no  wise  to  blame.  It  was  not 
my  intention  or  ambition  to  captivate  either  of 
these  literary  gentry ;  but  if  in  my  endeavors  to 
appreciate  and  sympathize  with  their  thoughts 
and  theories  I  had  been  able  to  win  their  regard, 
was  it  for  me  to  heed  the  envy  of  one  who 
grudged  me  this  trifling  tribute  to  my  enthusi 
asm  ?  Assuredly  not.  Therefore  I  resolved  to 
act  exactly  as  if  I  were  unconscious  of  Miss 
Kingsley's  disapprobation. 

I  was  aroused  from  these  reflections  by  hear 
ing  Mr.  Fleisch  call  me  by  name.  He  informed 
me  in  the  curtailed  speech  we  were  using  that 
he  had  set  to  music  the  words  of  the  poem  from 
which  I  had  quoted,  and  that  after  tea  he  would, 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  121 

with  the  permission  of  the  company,  play  it  to 
us.  From  him  and  Mr.  Spence  conjointly  I 
then  learned  that  he  had  followed  out  the  prin 
ciples  of  moderation  in  a  number  of  original 
productions.  Most  musical  scores  were  too  long, 
he  said,  — just  as  many  people  talked  too  much, 
—  and  he  was  seeking  to  popularize  even  classi 
cal  works  by  abbreviating  them,  after  the  fashion 
adopted  by  Mr.  Spence  in  regard  to  conversa 
tion.  In  this  manner  formidable  pieces,  like 
oratorios  and  symphonies,  could  be  made  con 
genial  and  instructive  to  those  who  usually  found 
them  tedious.  In  music  as  in  literature  the  idea 
was  the  main  consideration,  and  in  Mr.  Fleisch's 
opinion  the  vehicle  by  which  it  was  conveyed 
should  be  as  little  cumbersome  as  possible. 
Acting  on  this  principle,  he  had  in  one  instance 
reduced  an  entire  symphony  to  eight  chords 
without  destroying  the  charm.  In  music  com 
pression  was  possible  to  a  greater  extent,  he 
believed,  than  in  any  other  art. 

While  Mr.  Fleisch  and  Mr.  Spence  were  devot 
ing  their  attention  to  making  this  new  offshoot 
of  the  system  clear  to  me,  I  was  occasionally  dis 
tracted  by  the  behavior  of  Miss  Kingsley,  who 
was  audibly  using  my  name  in  the  course  of  a 
whispered  colloquy  with  Mr.  Barr.  The  artist's 


122  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

eyes  still  never  strayed  from  my  face,  but  his  ear 
was  open  to  his  neighbor's  confidences;  and  I 
could  gather — for  it  is  difficult  to  avoid  listening 
where  one  is  the  subject  of  conversation  —  that 
she  was  representing  me  as  belonging  to  the 
world  of  fashion,  and  present  merely  upon  suf 
ferance.  I  noticed  too  that,  curiously  enough, 
Mr.  Spence  seemed  attracted  by  the  sound  of 
my  name,  and  would  now  and  then  secretly  lend 
an  ear  to  what  was  being  said  upon  his  other 
side.  In  fact  I  soon  made  up  my  mind  that 
it  was  for  his  benefit  Miss  Kingsley  was  talking. 
She  hoped  to  undermine  my  influence  by  an 
unflattering  description  of  my  doings  in  society. 
It  was  doubtless  her  cue  to  make  her  guests 
regard  me  as  a  frivolous  character. 

Naturally  I  was  indignant,  and  my  pride  was 
aroused.  To  be  sure  I  was  in  her  debt  for 
the  opportunity  she  had  given  me  of  meeting 
these  literary  friends,  but  that  gave  her  no 
license  to  misrepresent  me,  in  a  light  which 
in  my  present  humor  was  the  most  distasteful 
she  could  have  selected.  Under  the  spur  of 
pique  I  redoubled  my  graciousness  toward 
Mr.  Spence  and  Mr.  Fleisch,  and  likewise 
watched  my  opportunity  to  court  the  artist 
with  a  smile,  whereupon  he  sighed  again  and 


A    ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  123 

reached  out  his  hand  for  the  crystal   pitcher; 
but  it  was  empty. 

Miss  Kingsley,  however,  was  not  one  to  quit 
the  field  without  a  struggle.  So  successful  were 
my  efforts  that  she  was  forced  to  sit  silent  and 
with  a  smile  on  her  lip,  from  her  obligations  as 
a  hostess;  but  I  knew  she  was  preparing  a 
revenge. 

It  came  sooner  than  I  expected.  Taking  ad 
vantage  of  a  pause  in  the  conversation,  caused 
by  Mr.  Spence  leaning  forward  to  explain  to 
me  on  paper  the  rudiments  of  an  attempt  he 
had  been  making  to  apply  the  principles  of 
the  Economy  of  Speech  to  arithmetical  prob 
lems,  she  whispered  in  an  aside  to  Paul  Barr, 
but  so  loud  as  to  be  audible  to  every  one  at 
table,  — 

"  Three  millions  at  least" 

Impertinent  as  this  reference  to  my  worldly 
prospects  was,  I  should  not  have  regarded  it  as 
of  importance  but  for  the  strange  behavior  of 
Mr.  Spence,  whose  hand  at  the  announcement 
shook  in  writing  like  an  aspen  leaf.  He  looked 
up  at  me  with  an  expression  of  mingled  pain 
and  inquiry,  which  was  so  completely  earnest 
that  my  own  eyes  drooped  on  meeting  his.  An 
embarrassing  silence  ensued  for  an  instant,  and 


124  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

then  with  a  bound  Paul  Barr  rose  from  his  chair, 
and  flinging  himself  down  before  the  piano  be 
gan  to  dash  off  a  wild,  exuberant  production 
that  suggested  the  lawless  but  triumphant  paean 
of  some  heathen  divinity. 

As  we  returned  to  the  other  room  I  felt  in 
stinctively  that  my  prestige  with  Mr.  Spence 
had  been  impaired  by  the  whisper  of  Miss 
Kingsley.  His  attentions  ceased,  and  as  a  con 
sequence  Mr.  Fleisch  also  neglected  me.  I 
took  a  seat  on  the  sofa  by  the  side  of  Mrs. 
Marsh.  In  an  opposite  corner  my  rival  and  the 
two  moderationists  were  examining  a  manu 
script  without  apparent  consciousness  of  my 
existence.  The  sudden  transposition  of  affairs 
made  me  sensitive.  Paul  Barr  still  sat  at  the 
piano  executing  his  delirious  fantasy,  and  ever 
and  anon  looking  back  over  his  shoulder  at 
me.  He  at  least  was  faithful.  But  it  was  not 
admiration  I  sought.  I  wished  for  respect  for 
my  intelligence,  and  to  be  considered  a  prom 
ising  proselyte  of  culture.  I  seemed  a  few 
moments  ago  to  have  won  this  recognition 
from  the  entire  company,  and  now  I  was  an 
outcast. 

As  fortune  would  have  it,  the  mystery  was 
explained  a  few  minutes  later  through  the 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  125 

efficacy  of  Mrs.  Marsh.  We  entered  into  con 
versation,  and  almost  immediately  she  volun 
teered  certain  details  regarding  Miss  Kingsley, 
brought  about  primarily  by  my  inquiring  her 
age. 

"  How  old  ?  Lucretia  Kingsley  will  never 
see  thirty  again,  no  matter  how  hard  she  tries 
to  look  younger.  She 's  a  fine-appearing  girl 
though,  and  a  stylish  dresser.  She  makes  a 
pretty  penny,  I  understand,  out  of  the  work  she 
does  for  the  newspapers.  Folks  say,"  -  —  here  she 
lowered  her  voice ;  and  let  it  be  added  at  the 
same  time  that  I  felt  some  compunctions  at  her 
not  continuing  to  use  the  economic  system,  but 
in  my  interest  to  learn  her  secret  I  was  weak 
enough  to  let  her  go  on,  —  "  folks  say  that  she 
and  Mr.  Spence  will  hit  it  off  together  some 
day.  I  guess  she  's  thrifty,  too,  when  she  's  not 
at  her  books.  Did  you  notice  how  worked  up 
he  was  when  your  three  millions  were  spoken 
of  ?  I  could  see  he  'd  taken  a  fancy  to  you,  but 
when  that  came  out  he  had  to  drop  you  like  a 
hot  cake." 

"What  do  you  mean?"  I  asked,  too  much 
astonished  to  be  upset  by  her  colloquial  style. 

"  It 's  the  only  part  of  his  philosophy  that  I 
don't  altogether  take  to,  for  it  does  n't  seem 


126  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

quite  natural  to  me  to  turn  one's  back  on  what 
Heaven  sends  in  the  way  of  income.  I  'm  an 
out-and-out  convert  to  his  doctrines  into  the 
bargain.  I  used  to  believe  in  having  a  good 
time,  and  all  that  sort  of  nonsense ;  but  I  Ve 
come  to  see  that  what  he  calls  equipoise  is  the 
true  road  to  happiness,  and  that  it 's  best  to 
leave  oft"  a  bit  hungry  if  you  want  to  live  to  a 
green  old  age.  I  suppose  you  Ve  heard  his 
lecture  on  'Overeating  and  Undereating ' ?  If 
you  have  n't,  don't  fail  to  go  the  next  time  he 
delivers  it.  There 's  more  good  sound  medicine 
in  two  sentences  of  that  than  in  all  the  apothe 
cary  shops  in  creation.  I  went  to  hear  him  by 
accident  too,  for  I  'm  not  partial  to  lectures  as  a 
rule.  I  had  the  dyspepsia  bad,  and  had  spent 
more  money  on  physic  and  the  doctors  than  it 
would  take  to  support  Mr.  Spence  for  the  rest 
of  his  born  days.  They  all  wanted  one  of  two 
things,  —  either  that  I  should  stuff  myself  or 
starve  myself.  One  was  for  having  me  eat 
every  five  minutes,  and  the  next  made  me 
weigh  everything  that  went  into  my  stomach. 
But  Mr.  Spence  took  the  bull  by  the  horns 
when  he  said,  '  Some  people  eat  too  much, 
and  some  eat  too  little.  Preserve  a  happy 
medium!'  And  that's  what  I've  been  doing 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  127 

ever  since,  and  the  consequence  is  I  could  eat 
nails  if  I  was  pressed  hard." 

"  But  eating  is  quite  a  different  thing  from 
income,"  she  continued,  relieving  at  last  my 
impatience;  "and  I  can't  see  the  sense  of  his 
idea  that  people  should  n't  keep  more  than  just 
enough  money  to  live  on.  It's  a  part  of  his 
system,  as  he  calls  it,  I  know;  and  if  he  says 
that  human  nature  would  be  better  with  less,  I 
am  not  the  one  to  gainsay  him,  for  there  's  no 
young  man  of  his  years  in  the  city  smarter  than 
Mr.  Spence,  and  he  may  be  right.  I  can  say, 
though,  that  before  this  it  has  stood  in  the  way 
of  his  marrying.  Only  two  years  ago  there  was 
a  young  lady  from  New  York  just  crazy  to  get 
him.  She  was  real  elegant  too,  and  folks  say 
he  fancied  her.  But  she  was  very  rich,  just  as 
you  are ;  and  she  was  n't  willing  —  and  I  don't 
blame  her  either  —  to  give  up  every  blessed 
cent  because  he  wanted  her  to.  But  he  is  bent 
on  carrying  his  principles  of  moderation  into 
daily  practice,  and  there 's  no  use  in  resisting 
him.  It's  rare  he  takes  a  liking  so  strong  as  he 
took  to  you  to-night,  and  perhaps  it  was  best 
for  both  of  you  that  the  truth  came  out  when 
it  did." 

"  Very  much,"  I  answered  in  a  dazed  tone. 


128  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

Mrs.  Marsh's  confidences  had  mystified  me 
more  than  ever.  Of  course  I  could  no  longer 
doubt  Miss  Kingsley's  jealousy;  but  it  was  not 
equally  apparent  to  me  why  Mr.  Spence  should 
have  felt  obliged  to  change  his  behavior  so 
precipitately  because  of  my  wealth.  Surely  he 
could  tolerate  even  if  he  did  not  advocate  the 
possession  of  riches.  I  was  young,  and  had 
much  to  learn.  It  was  possible  that  when  I  came 
to  hear  his  arguments,  I  might  be  convinced  and 
ready  to  sacrifice  my  prospects  of  a  large  income 
to  the  demands  of  a  noble  philosophy.  If  it 
were  a  question  of  marriage,  I  could  readily 
understand  his  insisting  that  his  bride  should 
comply  with  his  views  in  this  respect.  But  I  was 
merely  a  guest  of  Miss  Kingsley,  an  acquaint 
ance  whom  he  might  never  see  again.  His 
conduct  seemed  to  me  irrational  and  strange. 
I  could  not  believe  that  he  had  cast  me  off 
because  of  an  unwillingness  to  offend  his  host 
ess,  for  he  had  appeared  wholly  absorbed  in 
my  presence  until  her  impertinent  speech  in 
regard  to  my  property  had  put  an  abrupt  end 
to  his  complaisance. 

Meanwhile  Mr.  Barr  had  finished  his  paean 
and  seated  himself  near  me.  There  was  no  mis 
taking  the  glances  he  cast,  and  out  of  respect 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  129 

to  myself  I  chose  to  exhibit  some  coldness  of 
manner  in  response  to  his  remarks,  which  were 
an  ardent  defence  of  passion  and  what  he  called 
verve  in  music,  literature,  and  art.  Keen  enjoy 
ment,  he  said,  was  never  to  be  found  in  re 
straint  ;  and  if  extremes  tended  to  shorten 
human  life,  a  short  existence  crowned  with 
pleasure  was  preferable  to  four-score  and  ten 
years  of  dull  uniformity.  The  giant  trees  of 
the  forest,  the  reddest  roses  of  the  garden,  and 
the  fairest  faces  in  Christendom  must  be  frowned 
on  as  noxious  if  the  doctrine  of  moderation  was 
to  prevail.  For  were  not  they  extremes?  Yet 
rob  the  world  of  them,  and  where  would  a  re 
compense  be  found  for  their  loss?  In  ordinary 
growths,  in  the  every-day  rose,  in  common 
place  beauty?  Heaven  forbid!  and  he  pulled 
at  his  beard,  and  his  fine  eyes  flashed  in  the 
fulness  of  his  excitement. 

Mrs.  Marsh  looked  shocked,  and  took  up  the 
cudgels  against  him  in  defence  of  the  opposite 
principles,  so  that  I  was  able  to  keep  silent  and 
wonder.  He  would  fain  deify  passion,  he  said  ; 
and  there  were  two  passions  which  no  human 
agency  could  stem  or  curb,  —  the  passion  for 
wealth,  and  the  passion  of  love.  Thereat  he 
looked  at  me  again,  with  so  much  eloquence 
9 


130  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

of  expression  that  I  had  to  blush  and  turn  my 
head  away. 

Then  the  little  German,  Mr.  Fleisch,  sat  down 
at  the  piano  and  performed  a  series  of  pieces  in 
illustration  of  what  he  had  explained  to  me, 
including  a  sonata  in  four  bars,  a  symphony 
in  three  chords,  and  a  song  without  words,  in 
paraphrase  of  Mr.  Spence's  "  fragment "  in 
celebration  of  a  night  passed  in  the  tomb.  I 
was  so  thrilled  and  delighted  by  these  selec 
tions  that  I  quite  forgot  my  perplexities,  and 
revelled  in  the  enjoyment  of  these  new-found 
theories.  Presently  too  Miss  Kingsley  came 
over  to  sit  by  me,  radiant  and  expressive  as 
before.  The  coolness  on  her  part  had  com 
pletely  vanished,  and  needless  to  say  my  heart 
felt  lighter. 

Resolving  to  be  natural  and  to  obtain  as 
much  benefit  as  possible  from  an  opportunity 
that  I  might  never  have  again,  I  moved  about 
the  room  and  managed  to  renew  my  conver 
sation  with  Mr.  Fleisch,  who  after  a  momentary 
coldness  seemed  gratified  at  my  expressions  of 
interest  in  his  musical  ideas.  We  recommenced 
the  Economic  system  of  speech,  and  presently 
were  joined  by  Miss  Kingsley.  I  rapidly  grew 
proficient ;  and  so  absorbed  did  I  become  in 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  131 

an  attempt  made  by  us  three  to  carry  on  con 
nectedly  an  entire  conversation  in  single  words, 
that  I  was  startled  at  hearing  a  voice  just 
behind  me  say, — 

"  Carriage." 

I  turned,  and  found  myself  face  to  face  with 
Mr.  Spence.  I  understood  that  he  had  come 
to  announce  to  me  the  arrival  of  my  coupe". 

"  Servant,"  he  added. 

This  told  me  that  my  maid  was  waiting  at  the 
door. 

Mr.  Spence's  face  was  courteous  but  grave, 
and  his  lips  were  firmly  set.  During  the  time 
of  my  conversation  with  Mr.  Fleisch  and  Miss 
Kingsley  he  had  been  sitting  apart  with  Mrs. 
Marsh,  while  Paul  Barr  had  returned  to  the 
piano  and  played  a  series  of  passionate  and 
ardent  music,  the  words  of  which  he  sung  in 
a  deep  bass.  But  at  the  knock  of  my  maid 
he  paused,  and  now  sat  looking  back  over  his 
shoulder  at  me  with  pathetic  eyes. 

"  Home,"  I  said  to  my  hostess. 

"  Early." 

"  Horses." 

"  Sorry." 

Her  face  expressed  the  regret  at  my  departure 
which  it  seemed  to  me  any  extra  words  would 


132  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

have  impaired  the  artistic  value  of,  so  much  of 
a  convert  to  the  views  regarding  moderation 
had  I  become. 

Miss  Kingsley  produced  my  wraps  from  her 
boudoir,  which  Paul  Barr  with  a  brace  of  sighs 
assisted  me  to  put  on.  I  bade  good  evening  to 
them  all.  Mr.  Spence  made  me  a  low  but  for 
mal  bow.  I  could  see  his  lip  tremble.  The 
instant  after,  as  with  Paul  Barr  at  my  side  I 
began  to  descend  the  stairs,  a  hurried  step 
behind  told  me  that  the  master  was  coming 
also.  I  went  down  to  my  carriage  with  one  on 
either  hand,  the  artist-poet  pouring  out  a  flood 
of  words  which  I  scarcely  heeded,  while  Mr. 
Spence  in  an  occasional  monosyllable  endeav 
ored  to  express  the  hope  that  he  might  meet 
me  again. 

Just  as  I  reached  the  threshold  a  superb  rose, 
which  had  been  the  only  ornament  of  my  cos 
tume,  chanced  to  fall  from  my  corsage  on  the 
marble  floor.  It  lay  nearest  to  Mr.  Spence, 
who  started  to  pick  it  up.  But  he  hesitated, 
and  the  consequent  delay  was  taken  advan 
tage  of  by  his  rival,  who  had  darted  forward 
at  the  same  moment.  Mr.  Barr  lifted  the 
rose  and  pressed  it  to  his  lips  eagerly,  twice 
and  thrice.  Then,  without  asking  my  leave,  he 


A   ROM ANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  133 

put  it  in  his  button-hole.  It  was  he  too  who 
helped  me  into  my  carriage.  He  bent  low 
over  the  hand  I  gave  him,  while  Mr.  Spence, 
still  irresolute,  bowed  from  the  shadow  of  the 
doorway. 

"May  I  have  the  honor  of  calling  upon  you?" 
asked  Paul  Barr. 

"  Certainly,  if  you  wish.  And,  Mr.  Spence, 
I  shall  be  very  glad  to  see  you  also,"  I  cried 
from  the  carriage  window. 


134          A.   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 


IV. 


T  FELT  next  morning  a  little  as  if  my  experi- 
ence  of  the  previous  night  were  a  dream. 
But  as  I  thought  over  all  that  had  occurred, 
what  may  be  called  the  romantic  features  seemed 
to  dwindle  in  distinctness  and  importance,  and 
I  dwelt  chiefly  on  the  mental  profit  I  had  de 
rived  from  these  new  associations.  Once  more 
I  deplored  the  existence  of  the  vain  and  coquet 
tish  notions  that  had  led  me  to  construe  as  de 
votion  the  enthusiasm  of  the  clever  men  who 
had  honored  me  with  an  explanation  of  their 
original  and  interesting  conceptions.  It  was 
clear  that  I  was  still  not  wholly  free  from 
flippancy  and  nonsense. 

I  did  not  attempt  to  decide  between  the 
merits  of  the  diametrically  opposed  schools  of 
thought  represented  by  Mr.  Spence  and  Mr. 
Barr.  I  was  sensible  enough  to  understand  that 
long  study  and  reflection  would  be  requisite  to 
qualify  me  to  take  sides  intelligently.  But  yet 
I  had  already  a  distinct  preference.  I  felt  that 


A  ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  135 

whatever  the  value  of  his  system,  Mr.  Spence 
was  thoroughly  and  grandly  in  earnest.  His 
whole  soul  was  in  the  spread  and  development 
of  his  peculiar  doctrines.  To  obtain  their  recog 
nition  he  was  willing  to  sacrifice  luxury,  comfort, 
and  all  the  pleasures  of  life.  Everything  else 
was  a  secondary  consideration.  Already  in  the 
course  of  his  thorough  investigations  he  had 
endured  horrors  and  committed  extravagances 
from  which  a  nature  so  palpably  refined  as  his 
must  have  shrunk  with  loathing.  It  was  novel 
and  delightful  to  me  to  meet  a  man  so  com 
pletely  absorbed  in  a  pursuit  which  promised 
no  reward  beyond  the  amelioration  of  society,  — 
a  result  of  which  he  could  hope  to  live  to  see 
only  the  beginnings.  For  mere  dollars  and 
cents  he  cared  nothing.  He  had  no  ambition  to 
grow  rich ;  indeed,  it  was  one  of  his  tenets  that 
no  one  should  retain  more  than  a  certain  amount 
of  property,  —  doubtless  enough  to  keep  the 
wolf  from  the  door,  and  to  permit  the  continu 
ation  of  scholarship.  How  much  more  unselfish 
and  ennobling  a  life  than  that  of  the  feverish 
money-getter,  with  all  his  appliances  of  forge  and 
factory,  and  export  and  import!  I  had  found 
an  answer  to  my  yearnings  and  my  unrest  in 
this  untiring  devotion  to  abstract  truth. 


136  A  ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

A  part  of  this  was  true  undoubtedly  of  Paul 
Barr  as  well.  Ardor  and  zeal  were  the  very  es 
sence  of  his  philosophy ;  but  it  was  easy  to  divine 
by  looking  at  him  —  at  least  it  appeared  so  to  me 
—  that  he  lacked  the  spirit  of  persistent,  unselfish 
scholarship  which  distinguished  his  rival.  I  felt 
that  he  was  superficial,  and  that  he  would  rather 
sacrifice  his  principles  than  his  own  interests. 

All  the  more  did  I  have  faith  in  this  instinctive 
preference  for  Mr.  Spence,  from  the  fact  that 
from  the  standpoint  of  the  picturesque  and  ro 
mantic  everything  was  on  the  side  of  the  artist- 
poet.  Tall,  dashing,  handsome,  and  brilliant,  he 
was  adapted  and  doubtless  accustomed  to  carry 
hearts  by  storm.  No  woman  could  receive  his 
admiring  glances  without  that  slight  thrill  and 
flutter  of  the  heart  which  proves  the  presence  of 
a  fascinating  man.  On  the  other  hand  the  mas 
ter —  I  liked  to  think  of  him  as  such — was,  as 
I  have  already  intimated,  commonplace  in  ap 
pearance  at  the  first  glance,  and  save  for  his  mar 
vellous  voice  distinguished  for  none  of  those 
graces  which  attract  my  sex.  Perhaps  it  would 
be  more  just  to  say  that  he  sought  to  repress 
them  rather  than  that  they  did  not  exist,  for 
when  under  the  influence  of  enthusiasm  for  his 
science  his  face  was  inspiring  to  look  upon. 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  137 

Such  were  the  conclusions  at  which  I  arrived 
after  sifting  my  impressions.  But  never  did  my 
incapacity  and  dearth  of  knowledge  appear  to 
me  in  a  less  complimentary  light  than  at  this 
time.  I  vowed  again  and  again  to  give  myself 
up  unreservedly  to  study,  and  first  of  all  to 
choose  some  special  branch  that  would  prevent 
my  efforts  from  resulting  in  merely  desultory 
work.  If  so,  what  better  field  could  I  choose 
than  that  in  which  there  were  fellow-workers 
already  whom  I  knew,  and  with  whom  I  could 
sympathize?  The  more  I  thought  about  the 
subject  the  stronger  did  the  argument  in  favor 
of  this  selection  appear.  At  last  one  morn 
ing  in  an  access  of  enthusiasm  I  sat  down  and 
wrote  a  note  to  Mr.  Spence,  asking  if  he  would 
be  kind  enough  to  call  on  me  at  his  leisure,  — 
"  on  a  matter  of  business,"  I  added,  so  as  to 
preclude  any  possible  misinterpretation  on  his 
part. 

This  was  about  a  week  after  Miss  Kingsley's 
tea.  In  the  mean  time  I  had  been  to  see  Aunt 
Agnes  twice,  but  had  not  found  her  at  home.  I 
was  curious  to  hear  what  Miss  Kingsley  would  say 
concerning  me,  for  I  felt  by  no  means  sure  that 
her  remarks  would  be  wholly  complimentary. 
Freely  as  I  blamed  myself  for  my  conceited 


138  A  ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

notions  at  the  time,  regarding  the  attentions  of 
the  two  philosophers,  I  was  not  ready  to  absolve 
her  from  the  imputation  of  jealousy.  It  was 
difficult  to  explain  her  conduct  on  any  other 
ground,  and  I  remembered  what  Mrs.  Marsh  had 
said  as  to  tender  relations  between  her  and  Mr. 
Spence.  Indeed,  I  felt  some  irritation  against 
her  and  a  conviction  that  she  was  not  likely  to 
be  altogether  my  friend  when  we  were  not  face 
to  face.  However,  she  had  chosen  to  insert  my 
name  in  the  next  issue  of  the  "  Mercury "  as 
having  been  present  at  a  small  gathering  at  her 
"  parlors  "  to  meet  "  the  distinguished  scientist 
and  poet,  Charles  Liversage  Spence,"  —  a  notice 
which  she  doubtless  considered  "  sympathetic." 
I  stayed  at  home  the  whole  of  the  day  follow 
ing  that  on  which  I  wrote  to  Mr.  Spence,  and 
was  rewarded  by  receiving  a  visit  from  him  in 
the  afternoon.  He  seemed  little  at  his  ease 
when  he  entered  the  room,  and  I  observed  a 
number  of  details  of  dress  and  manner  which 
showed  that  he  was  not  versed  in  the  usages  of 
fashionable  life  despite  his  early  experiences. 
These  lapses,  or  rather  differences,  did  not  affect 
me  disagreeably,  —  indeed,  I  was  well  content 
that  he  should  be  as  unlike  as  possible  the  flip 
pant  youths  of  so-called  society, — but  they  were 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  139 

much  more  noticeable  than  when  he  was  in  the 
midst  of  such  artistic  surroundings  as  he  found 
at  Miss  Kingsley's. 

I  judged  it  best  to  enter  at  once  on  the  matter 
I  had  at  heart. 

"  You  will  pardon  me  I  am  sure,  Mr.  Spence, 
for  taking  up  your  valuable  time,  when  I  tell  you 
my  reason  for  asking  you  to  call  upon  me.  I 
will  be  frank,  and  say  that  I  have  been  for  some 
time  anxious  to  find  an  interest  to  which  I  could 
devote  myself  thoroughly  and  systematically, 
and  one  that  was  wholly  in  sympathy  with  what 
I  feel  to  be  my  tastes  and  aspirations.  I  have  a 
great  deal  of  time  at  my  disposal,  and  have  be 
come  weary  of  the  amusements  of  society  and  of 
the  merely  superficial  character  of  my  studies 
hitherto.  The  exercises  to  which  I  had  the  good 
fortune  to  listen  at  Miss  Kingsley's  the  other 
evening  were  almost  a  revelation  to  me.  They 
confirmed  at  least  the  opinion  I  had  begun  to 
have,  that  outside  of  what  the  world  calls  fash 
ionable  circles  there  is  a  class  of  people  who 
like  yourself  find  their  happiness  in  intellectual 
aims  and  pleasures.  So  much  interested  was  I 
by  what  I  heard  then,  that  I  have  decided,  after 
some  hesitation  on  the  score  of  troubling  you, 
to  offer  myself  as  a  student  of  your  system  of 


140  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

Moderation.  It  may  be,"  I  added,  speaking 
hurriedly  in  my  desire  to  put  the  matter  clearly 
before  him,  and  yet  not  to  be  prolix,  "  you  do 
not  care  for  the  co-operation  of  persons  so  little 
advanced  as  I ;  for  I  tell  you  honestly  that  though 
tolerably  proficient  in  what  are  known  as  accom 
plishments,  I  am  ignorant  of  all  that  appertains 
to  serious  knowledge.  But  believe  me  when  I 
say  that  I  am  thorougly  in  earnest,  and  will  de 
vote  myself  to  the  cause  with  all  my  heart,  in 
case  you  think  me  able  to  be  of  assistance." 

Mr.  Spence  heard  me  to  the  end  without  in 
terruption.  I  had  looked  straight  before  me, 
intent  alone  upon  presenting  my  case  in  such  a 
light  that  while  he  knew  the  worst,  he  would  not 
reject  my  request  to  become  one  of  his  pupils. 
Nor  did  he  reply  at  once.  I  glanced  at  him, 
and  saw  that  he  was  blushing ;  but  he  mastered 
his  confusion,  and  said  quietly:  — 

"  Miss  Harlan,  I  have  received  few  compli 
ments  in  my  life  more  acceptable  than  that 
comprised  in  what  you  have  just  said  to  me. 
It  is  precisely  to  such  alert  and  reflective  minds 
as  yours  that  I  wish  to  make  my  theories  inter 
esting.  I  am  devoting  the  sum  of  my  energies 
to  the  propagation  of  what  I  regard  as  a  truth 
vital  to  the  well-being  of  humanity.  You  know 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  141 

the  leading  features  of  my  system  already.  I 
will  not  disguise  from  you  that  an  advocacy  of 
them  will  expose  you  to  publicity,  it  may  be  to 
ridicule.  Our  converts  are  as  yet  few;  and  in 
order  to  be  of  service,  those  who  devote  them 
selves  to  the  work  must  be  enthusiastic.  I  do 
not  say  this  because  I  doubt  your  sincerity  or 
steadfastness ;  probably  you  have  considered 
these  things  already.  But  it  is  right  that  you 
should  be  fully  informed  regarding  the  character 
of  the  cause  you  propose  to  adopt." 

"  But  I  may  decide  not  to  adopt  it  in  the  end, 
Mr.  Spence,"  I  said,  not  wishing  to  commit  my 
self  irrevocably.  "  I  am  very  much  interested 
in  your  ideas,  but  I  should  prefer  to  be  accepted 
merely  as  a  student  until  I  am  more  familiar 
with  them.  As  I  have  said,  I  am  very  ignorant 
of  all  such  matters,  and  need  instruction.  I 
have  spoken  to  you  rather  to  ask  your  advice 
as  to  whom  to  select  as  a  teacher,  than  to  offer 
myself  as  an  active  convert.  The  rest  will  come 
in  time,  I  have  no  doubt,  for  I  am  greatly  at 
tracted  by  what  I  have  heard  already." 

"  I  see.  You  are  right,"  said  he.  "  Precipi 
tation  is  directly  opposed  to  the  spirit  of  rny 
theories.  I  should  have  said  you  were  already 
qualified  to  become  an  active  worker,  but  you 


142  A   ROMANTIC  YOUNG  LADY. 

are  the  best  judge :  and,  as  you  have  mentioned, 
you  will  be  able  to  become  familiar  with  the 
system  at  your  leisure." 

He  paused,  and  seemed  to  be  absorbed  in 
thought,  as  though  he  were  debating  with  him 
self. 

"Do  you  know  of  any  good  teacher?"  I 
inquired. 

"  I  am  reflecting." 

"  I  should  expect  to  pay  any  competent  per 
son  liberally." 

He  flushed  a  little,  and  after  an  instant  said : 

"  I  thought  at  first  that  I  might  see  my  way  to 
offering  myself  as  an  instructor,  but  on  reflec 
tion  I  find  it  would  be  difficult  for  me  to  find 
time.  I  know  of  no  better  persons  to  suggest 
than  one  of  our  friends  of  the  other  evening,  — 
Mr.  Fleisch  or  Miss  Kingsley.  Either  of  them 
is  admirably  well  informed  and  intelligent." 

"  Oh,  but  if  you  could  arrange  it  so,  I  should 
much  prefer  you,  Mr.  Spence,"  I  exclaimed  with 
genuine  eagerness.  "  I  did  not  dare  to  imagine 
that  such  an  arrangement  was  possible.  But 
now  that  you  have  suggested  it  yourself,  I  can 
not  give  up  the  idea  without  remonstrance." 

I  looked  at  him  beseechingly,  and  he  blushed 
again  in  a  manner  to  cause  me  self-consciousness. 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  143 

He  hesitated,  and  then  in  a  decided  tone,  as  if 
he  were  resisting  a  temptation,  said :  — 

"  It  is  out  of  the  question,  Miss  Harlan.  I 
have  not  time.  Mr.  Fleisch  is  an  excellent  in 
structor." 

"  Very  well ;  Mr.  Fleisch  then,"  I  answered,  a 
little  upset  by  his  confusion.  "  Will  you  speak 
to  him  about  it  and  arrange  the  terms?  " 

He  assented,  and  the  awkward  pause  that 
followed  was  relieved  by  the  entrance,  at  the 
same  moment,  of  Aunt  Helen  and  Mr.  Barr, 
though  not  in  company  it  need  scarcely  be 
added. 

Aunt  Helen  was  in  one  of  her  richest  and 
most  imposing  street  costumes,  whereas  the 
artist-poet  wore  black  velveteen  instead  of 
brown,  and  a  flowing  yellow  tie  instead  of  a 
cherry  one.  She  regarded  him,  I  could  see, 
with  a  mixture  of  horror  and  wonder,  which 
led  me  at  once  to  perform  the  duties  of  a  gene 
ral  introduction,  preliminary  to  taking  posses 
sion  of  Mr.  Barr,  and  relegating  to  Aunt  Helen 
the  less  unconventional  philosopher.  Paul  Barr 
however  bowed  to  her  in  so  superb  and  deferen 
tial  a  manner  that  I  thought  she  looked  rather 
flattered  than  otherwise,  which  relieved  my  worst 
apprehensions,  and  I  found  myself  straightway 


144          A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

chatting  with  him  in  a  somewhat  spirited  vein. 
Heard,  in  my  own  drawing-room,  Mr.  Barr's 
compliments  and  ardent  speeches  moved  me  to 
badinage,  and  I  saw  no  harm  in  accepting  them 
as  the  ordinary  give-and-take  of  the  would-be 
lady-killer,  more  original  and  therefore  more 
entertaining  than  those  of  a  fashionable  flirt,  but 
still  of  the  same  general  character.  I  affected 
to  be  alternately  irate  and  pleased  at  what  he 
said.  Meanwhile  his  eyes  looked  unutterable 
things,  and  he  interspersed  his  flatteries  with  a 
tissue  of  abnormal  but  poetic  fancies.  He  was 
undeniably  fascinating,  and  all  the  more  so  be 
cause  I  felt  in  his  society  somewhat  as  if  I  were 
walking  through  a  gunpowder  vault,  with  a  light 
ed  candle.  But  there  was  this  difference,  that  in 
his  case  the  character  of  the  possible  explosion 
was  wrapped  in  mysterious  uncertainty,  which 
added  an  agreeable  element  of  curiosity  to  my 
sensations. 

Presently  he  drew  from  his  breast  pocket  a 
small  volume  in  white  vellum  and  gold,  which 
he  presented  to  me.  It  was  a  copy  of  his 
poems,  —  "  The  Paradise  of  Passion,  and  other 
Rhythms."  I  glanced  at  the  fly-leaf,  and  to  my 
astonishment  and  confusion  perceived  that  un 
derneath  the  inscription,  "  Miss  Harlan,  with  the 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  145 

respectful  homage  of  him  who  did  these  verses," 
was  a  sonnet  "  To  Virginia,"  which  began,  — 

The  happy  rose  which  lately  from  thy  hands 
I  took  with  kisses,  dry  and  withered  lies  — 

I  did  not  attempt  to  read  farther  at  the  mo 
ment.  Indeed,  I  felt  inclined  to  draw  myself 
up  austerely  at  first,  but  on  second  thought 
acknowledged  his  presumption  with  the  same 
laughing  coquetry  I  had  hitherto  displayed. 
After  all,  it  was  not  worth  while  to  become  an 
gry.  His  extravagance  was  not  to  be  taken  too 
seriously.  It  was  rather  refreshing  for  a  change. 
I  wondered  how  he  would  behave  if  he  ever 
really  were  in  love. 

Meanwhile  I  had  endeavored  to  listen  at  the 
same  time  to  the  conversation  between  Aunt 
Helen  and  Mr.  Spence.  I  was  relieved  to  find 
that  he  saw  fit  to  avoid  any  allusion  to  his  theo 
ries,  and  pursued  the  highway  of  indifferent 
subjects,  such  as  the  weather,  the  stage,  and 
foreign  travel.  Still,  I  could  tell  from  Aunt 
Helen's  superior  and  as  it  seemed  to  me  dis 
dainful  tone  that  she  by  no  means  approved  of 
my  new  acquaintances,  though  I  detected  her 
casting  an  occasional  glance  of  puzzled  curi 
osity  at  Mr.  Barr,  whose  eccentricities  were, 
10 


146          A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

I  suppose,  more  amusing  than  the  calm  of  her 
companion. 

"  I  don't  suppose  you  find  the  differences 
very  marked  between  this  country  and  Europe, 
Mr.  Spence?"  I  heard  her  inquire  after  learning 
that  he  had  passed  much  of  his  life  abroad. 

"  On  the  contrary,  very  slight." 

"  Nice  people  are  very  much  the  same  every 
where,"  she  observed  haughtily. 

"  To  tell  the  truth,"  said  Mr.  Spence,  "  I  have 
been  rather  disappointed  at  finding  the  people, 
as  well  as  the  manners  and  customs,  of  this 
country  so  similar  to  those  across  the  water.  I 
had  been  led  to  expect  originality  and  indepen 
dence.  That  was  what  I  was  taught  to  believe 
as  a  child.  But  after  an  absence  from  my 
country  of  six  years  I  came  back  to  find  nearly 
the  same  manners  and  customs,  and  the  same  vir 
tues  and  vices,  as  I  left  behind  me  in  Europe." 

"Vices?"  echoed  Aunt  Helen.  "I  should 
say  there  was  much  less  vice  in  this  country 
than  in  Europe." 

"  Not  if  we  judge  by  the  newspapers." 

"Ah,  but  one  can't  believe  all  one  reads  in  the 
newspapers,"  she  said  with  an  air  of  triumph. 

Mr.  Spence  had,  unluckily  for  the  impression 
he  was  likely  to  create,  the  courage  of  his  con- 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  147 

victions  as  I  well  knew,  and  as  he  began  to  re 
ply  I  felt  less  secure  that  he  would  not  trench 
upon  dangerous  ground. 

"  There  is  a  general  tendency  to  ape  foreign 
ideas,  which  is  fast  destroying  our  originality 
as  a  nation,"  he  continued. 

"  Foreign  ideas  are  often  the  best,"  said  my 
aunt. 

"  We  are  beginning  to  talk  and  dress,  and 
dine  and  give  in  marriage,  just  like  all  the  rest 
of  the  world,"  he  explained,  without  regarding 
her  comment. 

Aunt  Helen  looked  a  little  blank.  Then  with 
her  most  stately  air  she  said :  — 

"  Surely  you  would  n't  have  marriages  per 
formed  before  a  Justice  of  the  Peace?  It  de 
stroys  all  their  sentiment.  I  know  a  great 
many  persons  who  would  n't  consider  them 
selves  married  so.  As  to  living  differently,  I 
don't  know  what  you  mean.  There  are  people 
here  who  advocate  cremation,  co-operation,  and 
that  sort  of  thing,  but  one  does  n't  meet  them 
in  society." 

"  I  am  no  judge,"  said  Mr.  Spence  coolly, 
"  for  I  never  go  into  society." 

"  Indeed  !  "  Aunt  Helen  surveyed  him 
through  her  eye-glass  as  if  he  were  a  curious  ani- 


148  A    ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

mal,  and  her  haughtiness  perceptibly  increased. 
"  Are  you  —  ch  —  in  business  in  Boston?  " 

"  No,  madam.  I  am  a  Bohemian,"  replied  Mr. 
Spence,  in  whose  eye  I  perceived  a  twinkle. 

"  A  what?  Ah,  yes,  of  course.  I  understood 
you  to  say  you  were  born  in  this  country.  And 
the  other  gentleman  —  eh  —  is  he  a  foreigner 
too?" 

For  an  instant  Mr.  Spence  looked  bewildered ; 
and  as  for  me  I  was  inwardly  convulsed,  so  much 
so  that  I  betrayed  my  feelings  in  a  smile  at  the 
moment  when  Paul  Barr  was  reciting  a  blood 
curdling  piece  of  poetry  of  his  own  compos 
ing,  —  an  indiscretion  which  offended  the  artist- 
poet  to  such  an  extent  that  in  my  efforts  to 
mollify  him  I  failed  to  catch  Mr.  Spence's  reply. 
He  rose  to  take  his  leave  at  this  point ;  but  it 
chanced  that  just  then  my  father  entered  the 
room,  and  I  was  obliged  to  repeat  the  introduc 
tions.  While  I  was  saying  a  few  last  words  to 
Mr.  Spence  in  regard  to  the  sort  of  instruction 
I  was  to  receive  from  Mr.  Fleisch,  Paul  Barr 
conversed  with  my  father,  laying  down  the  law 
in  his  most  superb  fashion  regarding  the  im 
mense  fortune  in  store  for  any  one  who  would 
start  what  he  called  a  fig  farm  in  this  country. 
Although  I  had  never  heard  him  broach  a  busi- 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  149 

ness  matter  before,  he  seemed  entirely  familiar 
with  his  subject,  and  fairly  bristled  with  statis 
tics  and  calculations  to  prove  the  soundness  of 
his  theory,  gardeners  to  the  contrary  notwith 
standing.  My  father  listened  to  him  patiently, 
and  seemed  to  be  amused.  Aunt  Helen  sat 
apart  with  a  reserved,  patrician  air. 

My  two  callers  took  their  leave  together  ; 
and  when  the  front  door  closed,  my  father  said 
jocosely,  — 

"Who  are  your  friends,  Virginia?  I  hope 
they  have  not  been  persuading  you  to  invest  in 
a  fig  farm." 

I  blushed,  remembering  my  former  design  of 
speculating  with  Mr.  Dale,  —  of  which,  however, 
my  father  had  no  knowledge. 

"  Both  are  literary  men  of  high  reputation," 
I  answered  quietly,  though  I  had  an  instinctive 
feeling  that  my  father  would  make  sport  of  this 
assertion.  But  experience  had  taught  me  that 
with  him  it  was  best  to  call  a  spade  a  spade. 

"  That  accounts  for  it.  I  thought  the  gentle 
man  in  velveteen  had  a  screw  loose  somewhere," 
he  said  as  he  passed  out  of  the  room. 

"Well,  Virginia,"  exclaimed  Aunt  Helen 
when  we  were  alone,  "  whom  have  you  picked 
up  now?  " 


ISO  A   ROMANTIC    YOUNG  LADY. 

"  I  don't  understand  you,"  said  I. 

"  Who  are  those  young  men  who  were  here 
just  now?  They  are  foreigners,  on  their  own 
admission,  —  Bohemians.  My  own  belief  is  that 
they  have  gypsy  blood  in  their  veins,  for  what 
can  one  know  of  the  antecedents  of  persons  who 
come  from  a  small  German  principality?  They 
don't  even  claim  to  be  counts,  and  any  one  with 
the  smallest  pretext  to  respectability  in  that 
part  of  the  world  is  a  count,  at  least.  They  look 
to  me  as  if  they  had  been  on  the  stage,  espe 
cially  the  one  to  whom  you  were  talking.  I 
will  do  him  the  justice  to  say  he  is  a  handsome 
wretch,  but  like  all  those  foreign  adventurers  he 
has  a  dissipated  air.  As  for  the  other,  he  is 
simply  commonplace  and  vulgar,  with  little  up 
start  radical  notions." 

I  waited  for  her  to  finish  before  replying. 
"  I  have  already  said  that  Mr.  Spence  and  Mr. 
Barr  are  both  literary  men  of  high  standing. 
They  are  neither  of  them  foreigners,  but  were 
born  in  this  State.  By  '  Bohemian '  Mr.  Spence 
meant  the  literary  and  artistic  fraternity  in  gen 
eral,  Aunt  Helen.  He  is  a  philosopher  as  well 
as  a  poet ;  and  Mr.  Barr  paints  pictures  in  addi 
tion  to  his  other  work." 

"But  who  are  they?     Where  do  they  come 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.          151 

from?  It  is  all  very  well  to  say  they  were  born 
in  this  country.  But  who  and  what  are  their 
parents?  Spencc  —  Spence  —  I  never  heard 
the  name  in  my  life.  There  were  some  Barrs 
who  used  to  live  in  the  next  street  to  us 
when  your  mother  and  I  were  young  ;  but 
they  were  all  girls,  and,  as  I  remember  them, 
ordinary." 

"  When  men  have  acquired  fame,  it  is  hardly 
necessary  to  inquire  if  they  belong  to  the  best 
families,"  I  rejoined,  borrowing  a  leaf  from  Aunt 
Agnes's  book. 

"  It  is  one  thing  to  admire  the  works  of  genius, 
and  another  to  have  it  trampoosing  over  your 
house.  Your  acquaintances  are,  I  dare  say,  well 
enough  as  poets  and  philosophers,  but  I  don't 
see  what  that  has  to  do  with  you.  You  are 
neither  a  poet  nor  a  philosopher,  and  you  will 
flatter  them  much  more  by  buying  their  books 
than  by  asking  them  to  five  o'clock  tea.  I  must 
say  that,  philosopher  or  no  philosopher,  the 
young  man  who  was  talking  with  me  has  very 
strange  ideas.  Just  think  of  his  advocating  co 
operative  house-keeping,  and  marriages  before  a 
Justice  of  the  Peace.  I  fancy  too  that  he  is  lax 
in  his  religious  opinions.  If  he  is  your  idea  of 
a  desirable  acquaintance  to  invite  to  your  house, 


152          A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

I  am  sorry  for  it.  You  never  got  any  such 
notions  from  my  side  of  the  family." 

"  It  is  useless  to  talk  with  you  if  you  go  off  at 
a  tangent,  Aunt  Helen,"  said  I.  "  I  am  proud  to 
call  both  those  young  men  my  friends,  and  they 
are  vastly  superior  in  every  way  to  nine  tenths 
of  those  one  meets  in  society.  Mr.  Spence, 
whose  ideas  you  think  so  peculiar,  is  one  of 
the  ablest  scientists  in  the  country,  and  I  am 
going  to  take  lessons  in  his  philosophy  from 
one  of  his  assistants.  As  I  told  you  the  other 
day,  I  am  tired  of  frittering  away  my  time  in 
nonsense." 

"  And  as  I  told  you  the  other  day,  Virginia, 
go  on  as  you  have  begun,  and  we  shall  hear  of 
you  presently  on  the  stage.  That  Mr.  Barr 
might  pass  in  a  drawing-room  on  account  of  his 
picturesqueness,  if  he  were  to  brush  his  hair ;  but 
the  other  one  is  simply  a  gawk,  to  be  plain. 
Science  indeed !  Don't  come  in  a  few  weeks 
to  ask  me  to  believe  that  we  are  all  descended 
from  monkeys,  or  any  other  stuff,  for  I  sha'n't  do 
it.  That 's  what  I  call  nonsense ;  and  you  will 
discover  some  day  that  most  people  who  have 
any  self-respect  are  of  my  way  of  thinking." 

I  had  never  known  Aunt  Helen  to  be  so  ex 
cited,  but  there  was  nothing  to  be  done.  Society 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  153 

and  etiquette  were  her  household  gods  ;  and  by 
ceasing  to  worship  the  same  divinities  I  had 
drawn  upon  myself  the  full  energy  of  her  dis 
pleasure.  Nothing  could  have  offended  her 
so  much.  To  be  odd  or  different  from  other 
people  was  in  her  estimation  a  cardinal  sin ; 
whereas  I  parted  from  her  with  a  still  firmer 
conviction  that  I  had  chosen  wisely.  The  calm 
unselfish  wisdom  and  steadfastness  of  Mr.  Spencc 
seemed  more  indisputable  to  me  than  ever ;  and 
in  the  way  of  companionship,  Paul  Barr's  gal 
lantries  and  sallies  were  vastly  preferable  to  any 
drawing-room  flirtation. 

It  was  only  when  I  thought  of  my  father  that 
I  felt  any  concern  or  doubt.  I  knew  that  he 
had  set  his  heart  upon  my  devoting  myself  to 
the  study  of  practical  matters.  He  wished  me 
to  become  cultivated,  but  scarcely  in  the  direc 
tion  I  had  chosen.  What  would  he  say  if  he 
knew  of  my  determination ;  and  was  it  filial  and 
just  to  let  him  remain  in  ignorance  of  it?  Yet 
I  reasoned  that  after  all  I  had  made  no  final 
decision.  I  was  attracted,  it  is  true,  by  what 
might  be  called  a  visionary  theory  ;  but  when  I 
had  given  the  principles  of  moderation  further 
thought,  I  might  conclude  not  to  devote  myself 
to  them.  It  would  be  time  enough  later  to 


154  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

speak  of  the  subject.  At  present  I  was  only  too 
poorly  prepared  to  present  the  ideas  of  Mr. 
Spence  in  an  intelligent  manner,  and  should 
probably  prejudice  my  father  against  the  whole 
system. 

However,  I  could  not  refrain  from  a  few  re 
flections  on  the  apparent  hostility  of  practical 
men  to  pure  theory,  which  must  after  all  be  the 
basis  of  all  intelligent  action.  How  much  nobler 
to  help  to  establish  principles  serviceable  to 
humanity  than  to  make  later  unconscious  use 
of  those  same  principles  to  advance  one's  own 
selfish  interests  !  Why  must  there  needs  be 
mutual  disdain  and  coolness  between  those  who 
thought  and  those  who  acted?  It  had  been  easy 
for  me  to  perceive  at  a  glance  that  there  was 
likely  to  be  but  little  mutual  sympathy  between 
my  father  and  Mr.  Spence,  and  the  consciousness 
grieved  me. 

But  I  did  not  falter  in  my  purpose.  Mr.  Fleisch 
called  to  see  me  the  following  day  and  laid  out 
an  elaborate  course  of  study.  He  was  to  come 
twice  a  week  to  examine  me  and  give  me  sug 
gestions,  but  he  said  that  my  progress  was  mainly 
dependent  on  my  own  exertions.  I  bought  a 
number  of  books  of  his  selection,  and  tried  to 
devote  five  hours  each  day  to  systematic  work. 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY,  155 

My  tasks  were  largely  of  a  philosophical  char 
acter,  but  poetry  and  music  of  a  restrained  sort 
were  also  included  in  Mr.  Fleisch's  instruction  ; 
and  he  said  that  after  the  foundations  were  laid, 
I  should  be  taught  the  dangers  of  extremes  by 
studying  examples  of  the  overmuch  and  the 
undermuch. 

At  last  I  was  successful  one  day  in  finding 
Aunt  Agnes  at  home,  and  alone.  It  was  about 
a  week  after  my  visit  from  Mr.  Spence.  I  was 
disturbed  at  seeing  her  brow  contract  at  sight 
of  me,  but  my  worst  fears  were  realized  when 
she  said :  — 

"I  do  not  wonder  that  you  have  preferred  to 
keep  away  from  me." 

"  On  the  contrary,  Aunt  Agnes,  I  have  called 
twice  before,  this  week." 

"  When  you  knew  I  was  out,  I  dare  say." 

There  was  no  answering  such  logic  as  this. 

"  I  seem  never  to  be  able  to  satisfy  you,"  I 
said  bravely.  "  I  had  come  to  tell  you  that  I 
am  studying  hard  under  the  direction  of  Mr. 
Fleisch,  a  favorite  pupil  of  Mr.  Spence,  and  am 
doing  all  I  can  to  improve  myself." 

"Fiddlesticks!     Tell  me /" 

"  But,  Aunt  Agnes,  it  is  so." 

"  I  have  heard  all  about  you.     You  can't  tell 


156  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

me  anything  about  the  matter  I  don't  know 
already.  We  shall  hear  next  of  your  carrying 
your  habit  of  flirting  into  the  sanctuary  itself. 
You  might  almost  as  well  coquet  with  a  minis 
ter  of  the  holy  Gospel  as  with  him  you  have 
selected  to  try  your  fascinations  on.  I  might 
have  guessed  what  would  be  the  result  of  in 
troducing  you  to  sober-minded  people.  It 
was  none  of  my  work,  thank  Heaven  !  Lucretia. 
Kingsley  has  herself  to  blame,  for  I  heard  her 
give  you  the  invitation  from  her  own  lips.  But 
I  blush  for  you  as  my  niece.  No  amount  of 
proficiency  or  cleverness  can  be  a  palliation  of 
your  behavior." 

"  I  have  been  maligned,  Aunt  Agnes,"  I  cried 
with  flashing  eyes.  "  Some  one  has  told  you  a 
pack  of  falsehoods.  It  is  not  true  that  I  have 
been  flirting  with  anybody.  I  have  given  up 
everything  of  the  kind,  as  I  said  I  should.  Who 
has  been  accusing  me?  I  insist  on  knowing 
who  told  you." 

"  No  matter  who  told  me.  My  authority  is 
of  the  best." 

"  I  suppose  it  was  your  friend  Miss  Kingsley. 
I  half  suspected  that  she  would  misrepresent  me 
tn  private." 

"  You  admit,  then,  that  you  are  guilty?  " 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  157 

"  I  admit  nothing.  If,  as  your  words  seem 
to  imply,  Miss  Kingsley  says  I  acted  unbecom 
ingly  at  her  house,  she  does  not  speak  the  truth. 
She  is  jealous.  The  long  and  short  of  it  is,  Mr. 
Spence  was  polite  to  me,  and  that  made  her 
angry.  I  believe  she  wishes  to  marry  him  her 
self,"  I  said  in  the  fulness  of  my  anger. 

"  Virginia  !  I  am  astonished  at  you.  It  will 
not  mend  matters  to  insult  your  benefactors. 
What  motive  had  Miss  Kingsley,  pray,  in  ask 
ing  you  to  her  house  but  kindness?" 

"  Pshaw !  "  I  cried,  now  thoroughly  roused. 
"  She  asked  me  because  she  thought  I.  was 
fashionable,  and  because  it  would  read  well  in 
the  newspaper  that  I  had  been  at  one  of  her 
tea-parties.  She  imagined  I  was  so  silly  and 
brainless  that  her  friends  would  take  no  notice 
of  me;  and  when  it  turned  out  that  they  did 
she  lost  her  temper." 

"  You  have  lost  yours,  Virginia.  I  presume 
you  will  tell  me  presently  that  Mr.  Spence  flirted 
with  you.  I  never  heard  such  nonsense  in  my 
life,  and  wicked  nonsense  too  ;  for  you  are  doing 
your  best  to  injure  the  character  of  a  young 
woman  who  is  in  every  way  your  superior,  and 
has  had  none  of  your  advantages.  As  I  just 
said,  I  presume  you  will  claim  that  Mr.  Spence 


158  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

flirted  with  you,  and  that  he  wrote  to  you 
first." 

"  Wrote  to  me?  He  has  never  written  to  me; 
nor  I  to  him,  except  to  ask  his  advice  about  a 
teacher." 

"  You  admit  so  much?  " 

"  Why  should  n't  I  ?  I  was  interested  in  his 
theories,  and  I  applied  to  him  as  the  most  natural 
person  to  consult." 

"  It  is  very  easy  to  explain  it  away  in  that 
manner,  but  unfortunately  for  you  my  informant 
adopted  —  " 

"  Why  don't  you  say  Miss  Kingsley,  and  have 
done  with  it,  Aunt  Agnes?  " 

"  Very  well  then,  if  you  prefer,  Miss  Kingsley 
adopted  a  very  different  style  in  speaking  of 
you  than  you  employ  in  speaking  of  her.  She 
tried  to  spare  you  as  much  as  possible,  and  said 
what  she  did  only  with  great  reluctance.  I  could 
see  that  she  was  holding  back,  and  was  resolved 
not  to  tell  the  whole.  '  Of  course,'  she  said,  '  I 
know  Miss  Virginia  did  not  mean  to  offend,  and 
very  likely  in  general  society  her  little  indiscre 
tions  would  have  been  quite  proper;  but  at  a 
purely  intellectual  gathering  like  ours,  from 
which  as  you  know  all  vanities  are  rigorously 
excluded,  it  did  seem  to  me  unsympathetic  of  a 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  159 

new-comer  to  introduce  an  element  of  coquetry 
When  I  say  that  since  then  she  has  written 
notes  to  Mr.  Spence,  whose  time  is  precious  as 
gold,  asking  him  to  call  upon  her  in  a  social  way, 
you  will  I  am  sure,  my  dear  Miss  Harlan,  excuse 
my  speaking.  It  is  for  her  own  good  that  I  have 
ventured  to  do  so,  as  a  word  from  you  would  con 
vince  her  of  her  thoughtlessness.'  " 

"  The  hypocrite  !  "  I  murmured,  too  indignant 
to  restrain  myself. 

"  There  you  go  again,  vilifying  her  with 
abusive  epithets  when  she  has  simply  done  her 
duty  as  a  friend.  Contrast  for  instance  your 
various  expressions  with  hers.  '  Jealous ;  '  'in 
vited  you  to  her  house  because  you  were  fash 
ionable  '  (a  most  unwarranted  assumption) ;  '  a 
hypocrite ;  '  and,  worst  of  all,  you  accuse  her  of 
trying  to  win  the  affections  of  a  man  whom  she 
venerates  as  a  master,  and  who  though  he  has 
never  taken  the  vow  of  celibacy  is  too  much 
absorbed  in  the  life-work  he  is  pursuing  to  give 
a  thought  to  marriage.  And  what  does  she 
say  of  you?  She  merely  calls  it  'unsympa 
thetic  '  of  a  new-comer  to  disturb  the  harmony 
of  sober-minded  people  by  the  introduction  of 
coquetry.  '  Unsympathetic  ' !  If  I  were  to  stig 
matize  such  behavior,  I  should  call  it  disgraceful. 


160          A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

I  was  mortified,  Virginia,  thoroughly  mortified  ; 
and  especially  as  Mr.  Spence  had  been  here  the 
day  before,  and  spoken  of  you  in  terms  that 
made  me  feel  really  proud.  As  Miss  Kingsley 
said,  however,  he  is  the  last  man  in  the  world 
to  notice  such  a  thing  as  coquetry." 

I  made  a  mental  interrogation  point,  but  I 
did  not  dare  to  give  utterance  to  the  heresy  lest 
I  should  seem  to  be  carrying  out  Aunt  Agnes's 
insinuation  that  I  would  next  accuse  Mr.  Spence 
of  flirting  with  me.  I  replied  with  as  much 
quietness  as  I  could  at  the  moment  command,  — 

"  I  can  only  repeat  what  I  have  already  said. 
Miss  Kingsley  has  slandered  me,  whether  inten 
tionally  or  not  I  do  not  know.  But  her  charge 
of  coquetry  is  utterly  without  foundation." 

"  Did  you  not  make  eyes  at  Mr.  Barr,  and 
give  him  a  rose?"  she  interrupted.  "You  see 
I  know  all." 

"  No,  I  did  not,"  I  answered,  flushing.  "  On 
the  contrary,  Mr.  Barr  made  me  feel  excessively 
uncomfortable  during  most  of  the  evening  by 
the  absurd  compliments  he  paid  me,  and  by  the 
way  in  which  he  stared  at  me.  As  for  the  rose, 
I  dropped  it  accidentally  as  I  was  getting  into 
my  carriage,  and  I  believe  he  picked  it  up." 

"  Accidentally !  "  said  Aunt  Agnes  with  a  sniff. 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  l6l 

"As  my  informant  said,  'when  a  young  woman 
flings  herself  at  the  head  of  a  hot-souled  poet, 
what  is  she  to  expect?'  Human  nature  is  hu 
man  nature,  and  there  are  not  many  men  with 
the  self-control  of  Mr.  Spence." 

"  Miss  Kingsley  seems  to  have  given  you  a 
great  deal  of  information,  Aunt  Agnes." 

"  You  are  mistaken  again,  as  usual.  The  per 
son  who  told  me  this  is  a  sober-minded  woman  of 
middle  age,  who  could  not  have  been  influenced 
by  jealousy." 

"  Mrs.  Marsh,  I  suppose.  I  might  have 
known  it,  from  her  choice  vocabulary.  Talk 
of  gossips,  Aunt  Agnes,  I  never  heard  a  worse 
one  in  any  drawing-room  in  the  city.  Who  is 
Mrs  Marsh?" 

I  was  glowing  with  indignation  again,  and 
justly  so  as  it  seemed  to  me.  I  had  been  cruelly 
misconstrued,  and  my  self-control  on  the  occa 
sion  of  Miss  Kingsley's  tea  had  been  wholly 
unappreciated. 

"Who  is  Mrs.  Marsh?  You  may  well  ask 
who  is  Mrs.  Marsh,  after  what  you  have  said 
about  her.  Gossip  or  no  gossip,  vocabulary 
or  no  vocabulary,  Mrs.  Marsh  is  a  very  deserv 
ing  woman,  who  by  her  own  unaided  efforts  has 
risen  to  the  position  she  now  occupies.  How 


1 62  A    ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

often  shall  I  be  obliged  to  impress  upon  you 
that  it  is  the  spirit,  not  the  letter,  that  is  of  im 
portance?  As  secretary  of  the  Society  for  the 
Practice  of  Moderation,  Mrs  Marsh  can  afford 
to  disregard  the  ill-natured  sneers  of  those  who 
may  have  enjoyed  greater  advantages  in  early 
life  than  she.  It  is  not  by  wholesale  abuse  of 
others,  Virginia,  that  you  will  persuade  me  of 
your  innocence.  On  your  own  showing,  you 
have  written  to  Mr.  Spence,  and  misconstrued 
Mr.  Barr's  poetic  impetuosity  as  an  attempt 
to  flirt  with  you.  I  do  not  desire  to  discuss  the 
matter  further.  We  shall  soon  know  whether 
you  are  sincere  or  not  in  your  professions  of 
study.  As  I  have  told  you  before,  your  future 
is  in  your  own  hands ;  but  first  and  foremost  you 
must  rid  yourself  of  this  propensity  to  behave 
in  a  trivial  manner." 

I  felt  that  silence  would  be  the  best  palliative 
for  my  wounds;  and  so  discouraged  was  I  of 
being  able  to  change  Aunt  Agnes's  opinion,  I 
thought  it  a  waste  of  breath  at  the  moment 
even  to  mention  Mrs.  Marsh  as  my  authority 
for  the  statement  that  Miss  Kingsley  had  a 
tender  feeling  for  Mr.  Spence. 


A  ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.          163 


V. 


A  YEAR  passed  without  special  incident,  and 
yet  certain  things  require  to  be  told  so 
that  the  sequel  may  seem  consistent.  Contrary 
to  Aunt  Agnes's  insinuation,  I  proved  sincere 
in  my  devotion  to  study.  Mr.  Fleisch  came 
regularly  twice  a  week,  and  during  the  summer 
months  when  I  was  away  from  home  his  instruc 
tion  was  continued  by  means  of  correspondence. 
I  found  him,  as  Mr.  Spence  had  predicted,  an 
admirable  teacher.  His  work  was  everything 
to  him,  and  he  imbued  me  with  his  ability  to 
look  at  our  relations  as  strictly  impersonal.  He 
might  have  been  a  machine,  so  little  was  he  sus 
ceptible  to  any  mood  of  mine,  —  a  characteristic 
which  I  deemed  more  and  more  indispensable 
each  day  to  a  proper  understanding  between 
pupil  and  master. 

As  a  result  of  his  teaching  and  my  own  indus 
try,  I  acquired  before  many  months  an  intimate 
knowledge  of  the  views  shared  by  those  who 
called  themselves  Modcrationists,  and  moreover 
without  the  slightest  diminution  of  my  enthusi- 


164          A    ROMANTIC    YOUNG  LADY. 

asm.  I  was  able  to  converse  intelligently  with 
the  most  proficient  of  the  school,  and  there  was 
little  of  the  system  that  failed  to  commend  itself 
to  me  as  entitled  to  faith  and  support.  I  at 
tended  meetings  and  lectures  in  advocacy  of  its 
theories,  and  occasionally  took  part  in  debates 
on  questions  relating  to  the  management  of  the 
Society  for  the  Practice  of  Moderation,  of  which 
I  was  elected  treasurer.  Thus  it  happened  that 
my  name  appeared  in  the  newspapers  as  one  of 
the  leading  spirits  of  the  movement,  and  among 
my  former  acquaintances  there  was  a  general 
impression  that  I  had  become  very  peculiar. 
My  old  ball-room  rivals,  who  were  for  the  most 
part  waltzing  as  hard  as  ever,  would  stop  me  in 
the  street  and  say,  "Virginia  dear,  is  it  true  you 
are  going  into  a  convent?"  or,  "What  is  this 
that  I  hear,  Virginia,  about  you  being  in  favor 
of  female  suffrage?  Do  you  really  think  women 
ought  to  vote?  "  Once  in  a  while  some  friend, 
who  was  either  more  accurate  by  nature  or  who 
really  felt  an  interest  in  me,  would  hit  closer  to 
the  mark,  and  perhaps  with  a  sigh  express  re 
gret  at  not  having  the  courage  to  become  liter 
ary  too.  "  But  it  does  separate  one  so  from 
other  people,  —  that  is,  people  one  knows ;  don't 
you  think  so  dear?" 


A    ROMANTIC    YOUNG  LADY.  165 

It  certainly  did.  I  was  completely  estranged 
from  my  old  associations,  and  spent  my  time, 
when  not  employed  in  study,  largely  at  the  rooms 
of  our  Society,  where  Mrs.  Marsh  presided 
as  secretary.  There  were  countless  circulars 
and  pamphlets  to  be  mailed,  setting  forth  our 
purposes  and  needs.  Mrs.  Marsh,  despite  an  in 
accurate  acquaintance  with  and  an  overweening 
curiosity  regarding  the  doings  of  fashionable 
people,  was  a  model  of  executive  ability.  With 
some  one  at  hand  to  correct  her  grammar  and 
spelling,  she  could  transact  a  greater  amount  of 
business  than  half-a-dozen  ordinary  women.  In 
my  zeal  to  see  things  properly  done,  I  constituted 
myself  her  assistant ;  and  we  managed  together 
the  whole  work  of  the  Bureau,  as  Miss  Kingsley 
liked  to  call  our  humble  quarters. 

My  relations  with  Miss  Kingsley  were  out 
wardly  very  friendly.  I  had  thought  it  best 
upon  reflection  not  to  appear  offended  when  we 
met  again,  and  she  on  her  part  greeted  me  with 
effusive  warmth  and  a  little  deprecatory  look,  as 
if  to  say,  "  You  will  excuse  me,  I  am  sure,  for 
what  I  said  to  your  aunt.  It  was  for  your  good, 
or  I  should  never  have  spoken."  Subsequently, 
in  our  relations  at  the  Bureau,  she  liked  to  pat 
ronize  me  slightly.  She  would  come  whisking 


166          A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

into  the  rooms  where  Mrs.  Marsh  and  I  were 
hard  at  work,  and  putter  about  for  a  few  mo 
ments,  asking  questions  and  giving  us  advice, 
and  then  whisk  out  again  with  an  encouraging 
nod.  She  was  apt  to  time  her  visits  so  as  to 
meet  Mr.  Spence,  who  came  regularly  sometime 
during  every  forenoon,  to  superintend  our  labors. 
He  stayed  usually  about  half  an  hour ;  and  from 
the  first  day  I  became  connected  with  the  Bureau 
I  made  a  point  to  avoid  him  as  much  as  pos 
sible, —  a  course  which  seemed  acceptable  to 
him,  for  he  always  addressed  his  business  sug 
gestions  to  Mrs.  Marsh,  and  did  not  encourage 
me  to  converse  with  him.  Once  in  a  while, 
however,  he  would  approach  me  in  a  con 
strained  fashion,  and  express  satisfaction  with 
the  reports  Mr.  Fleisch  made  of  my  progress. 
It  was  through  his  silent  agency  also,  I  had 
no  question,  that  I  was  appointed  treasurer,  and 
was  regarded  as  a  prominent  worker  in  the 
cause.  With  Miss  Kingsley,  on  the  other  hand, 
he  was  easy  and  familiar.  It  was  evident  that 
he  liked  her,  and  he  listened  to  her  opinions ;  but 
I  could  never  detect  what  seemed  to  me  any  signs 
of  sentiment  on  his  part  in  her  regard.  Miss 
Kingsley  must  have  thought  differently,  for  on 
one  or  two  occasions  she  was  unable  to  resist 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  1 67 

the  temptation,  as  they  went  out  of  the  door 
together,  of  looking  back  at  me  with  an  air  of 
triumph.  The  more  Mr.  Spcnce  seemed  to 
avoid  me,  the  kinder  and  more  patronizing  was 
her  manner ;  and  she  so  far  evinced  her  friend 
ship  presently  as  to  show  me  the  manuscript  of 
a  novel  which  she  had  written,  entitled  "  Mod 
eration,"  and  which  was  dedicated  "  To  him  to 
whom  I  owe  all  that  in  me  is  of  worth,  —  Charles 
Liversage  Spence."  It  was  an  attempt,  as  she 
explained  to  me,  to  return  to  the  rational  style 
and  improving  tone  of  Jane  Austen,  whose  nov 
els  were  sound  educators  as  well  as  sources  of 
amusement.  From  Miss  Kingsley's  natural  flu 
ency  and  sprightliness  I  expected  something 
"  racy,"  to  quote  Paul  Barr,  and  I  was  disap 
pointed  to  find  "  Moderation  "  dull  and  didactic. 
It  was  however  heralded  and  published  with  a 
great  flourish  of  trumpets ;  and  Mr.  Spence  wrote 
a  review  of  it  in  one  of  the  leading  newspapers 
under  the  symbol  XXX  (a  signature  of  his  known 
only  to  the  initiated),  in  which  he  called  attention 
to  its  exquisite  moral  tone,  which  had  no  coun 
terpart  in  fiction  since  the  writings  of  Miss  Edge- 
worth  were  on  every  parlor  table.  In  conclusion 
he  said :  "  Whatever  the  too  captious  critic  may 
say  of  the  dramatic  interest  of  the  story,  it  is 


1 68  A    ROMANTIC    YOUNG  LADY. 

indeed  a  triumph  for  a  young  writer,  and  that 
writer  a  woman,  to  embody  in  her  first  novel 
opinions  that  will  make  the  book  of  value  to  the 
student  of  psychology  long  after  the  craving  of 
human  nature  for  fictitious  narrative  has  ceased 
to  exist." 

My  own  opinion  of  the  novel  was  reinforced 
by  that  of  Paul  Barr,  which  prevented  me  from 
thinking,  as  I  might  otherwise  have  done,  that  I 
was  actuated  by  ill-nature  in  judging  Miss  Kings- 
ley's  book.  After  the  first  phase  of  curiosity  its 
popularity  waned,  and  the  author  adopted  the 
fashion  of  calling  it  an  artistic  success.  But  the 
complimentary  criticism  of  Mr.  Spence  gave  me 
food  for  thought,  and  for  the  first  time  sug 
gested  the  idea  of  a  possible  feeling  on  his  part 
for  Miss  Kingsley  stronger  than  friendship.  It 
interested  me,  and  at  the  same  time  annoyed  me 
a  little.  Why  the  latter  I  hardly  knew,  unless  it 
were  a  conviction  that  she  was  not  good  enough 
for  him.  But  when  I  thought  over  their  daily 
relations  as  constantly  exhibited  in  my  presence, 
my  former  opinion  that  he  had  merely  a  broth 
erly  affection  for  her  returned.  If  he  had  been 
misled  to  praise  her  book  unduly,  it  was  by  his 
excessive  enthusiasm  for  his  own  doctrines  pre 
sented  therein,  and  not  by  the  blind  force  of  love, 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  1 69 

—  which  conclusion  was  directly  at  variance  with 
the  theory  of  Mrs.  Marsh  on  the  subject,  who 
was  perpetually  referring  to  the  match  between 
them  as  a  foregone  conclusion. 

Discreet  as  was  my  conduct  in  general  during 
these  twelve  months,  and  earnestly  as  I  sought 
to  avoid  in  its  mildest  form  what  Aunt  Agnes 
called  coquetry,  I  was  not  able  to  escape  the 
importunities  of  Mr.  Barr.  Absorbed  as  I  was 
in  my  work,  and  determined  to  consider  all 
attentions  from  my  literary  friends  as  mere 
meaningless  gallantries,  it  was  very  difficult  to 
disregard  the  artist-poet's  protestations  of  de 
votion:  they  had  become  little  short  of  that. 
He  was  a  constant  visitor  at  the  rooms  of  our 
Society,  although  his  own  principles  were  hostile 
to  those  we  professed ;  and  he  would  spend  as 
much  time  as  I  would  permit,  lolling  about  my 
desk  and  whispering  all  sorts  of  nonsense.  He 
brought  me  flowers  and  fruit,  and  now  and  then 
some  new  publication,  —  not  in  sufficient  quan 
tity  to  permit  me  to  refuse  them,  but  a  single 
rose  or  a  peach,  or  a  tiny  volume  of  verses.  He 
sent  me  sonnets  and  madrigals  through  the  post 
without  signature,  though  in  his  own  handwrit 
ing,  and  denied  with  asseverations  their  author 
ship  when  questioned.  Besides  his  black  and 


1 70          A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

his  brown,  he  had  a  green  velveteen  coat,  and  a 
different-colored  flowing  tie  for  every  day  in  the 
week.  His  habits  were  in  complete  conformity 
with  his  philosophy  of  extremes.  He  was  apt 
to  tell  me  when  he  had  been  sitting  up  all  night, 
whether  in  study  or  what  he  called  wassail ;  but 
I  could  always  guess  the  fact  from  his  appear 
ance.  His  method  of  work  was  equally  irregu 
lar,  and  he  lived  from  hand  to  mouth.  He  would 
be  idle  as  a  forced  peach  on  a  hot-house  wall 
(to  use  a  simile  of  his  own)  for  weeks  at  a  time ; 
and  yet  when  he  was  seized  with  a  desire  to 
work,  it  was  no  uncommon  thing  for  him  to  paint 
or  compose  twenty-four  hours  at  a  sitting,  and 
come  to  the  Bureau  or  my  house,  almost  before 
I  was  out  of  bed,  with  dishevelled  raiment  and 
bloodshot  eyes,  to  exhibit  or  read  to  me  the 
result  of  his  industry. 

I  had  by  this  time  ceased  to  regard  him  with 
any  seriousness  as  a  philosopher.  Indeed,  it 
was  difficult  not  to  consider  his  vagaries  self-in 
dulgence  ;  and  from  the  veneration  I  conceived 
for  him  at  the  start,  I  came  to  be  his  mentor  in 
the  end.  I  dared  to  remonstrate  with  him  on 
the  irresponsible  life  he  was  leading,  and  sought 
to  inculcate  in  him  the  doctrine  of  moderation.  I 
felt  that  I  had  an  influence  over  him ;  and  it  was 


A    ROMANTIC    YOUNG  LADY.  I/I 

the  consciousness  of  this  that  prompted  me  not 
to  be  too  severe  in  the  matter  of  his  attentions 
and  little  gifts.  When  I  talked  to  him,  as  I  often 
did,  on  the  error  of  his  ways  and  the  waste  of 
his  talents,  he  would  listen  to  me  with  tears  in 
his  eyes,  and  promise  better  things  for  the  future. 
He  would  become  systematic  and  serious  in  his 
habits  and  work.  Without  becoming  a  convert 
to  moderation,  he  would  develop  his  own  scheme 
of  philosophy  in  an  artistic  spirit.  There  was  a 
limit  even  to  extremes,  he  said ;  and  that  limit 
scientifically  determined  would  induce  a  perfect 
happiness.  When  he  talked  thus,  I  felt  I  could 
afford  to  be  indifferent  to  the  insinuations  and 
playful  sallies  of  Miss  Kingsley  and  Mrs.  Marsh. 
They  might  think  what  they  chose  of  our  re 
lations.  If  by  the  exercise  of  sympathy  and 
counsel  I  could  regenerate  a  man  of  strong  in 
dividuality  and  striking  natural  gifts  from  the 
thrall  of  self-indulgence,  a  fig  for  the  idle  voice 
of  gossip ! 

Meanwhile,  I  grieve  to  say  that  my  intimacy 
with  Aunt  Helen  was  strained.  Many  were  the 
tears  she  shed  over  my  degeneracy,  and  no  words 
of  mine  could  make  her  see  other  than  a  foolish 
waste  of  golden  opportunities  in  the  course  I  was 
pursuing.  This  disturbed  me  greatly,  for  my 


172  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

attachment'to  her  was  very  strong,  and  I  knew 
she  would  have  cut  off  her  right  hand  to  serve 
me.  Our  interviews  were  largely  lachrymose 
on  her  part  and  morose  on  mine,  after  argument 
proved  futile.  She  had  none  of  Aunt  Agnes's 
downrightness,  but  a  no  less  degree  of  persist 
ence.  After  many  efforts,  I  succeeded  in  con 
vincing  her  that  my  friends  had  no  connection 
with  the  stage,  and  I  persuaded  her  to  accom 
pany  me  to  one  of  Mr.  Spence's  lectures.  It  was 
the  one  on  Over-eating  and  Under-eating,  and  the 
most  likely  to  be  fully  intelligible,  I  thought. 
But  I  caught  her  napping  before  the  end ;  and 
as  an  all-embracing  condemnatory  criticism,  she 
cautioned  me  to  beware  of  homoeopathy ! 

With  Aunt  Agnes,  on  the  other  hand,  my  re 
lations  were  more  friendly  than  they  had  ever 
been  before.  Experience  had  taught  me  that 
long  conversations  with  her  were  not  advisable, 
but  I  was  able  to  test  the  thermometer  of  her 
feelings  toward  me  in  other  ways.  She  had  be 
gun  to  send  me  books  and  pamphlets,  relating 
to  various  abstract  theories  in  which  she  was  in 
terested  ;  and  once  or  twice  she  read  to  me  articles 
in  manuscript  of  her  own  composition,  and  asked 
my  opinion  of  their  merit.  Occasionally,  too, 
she  paid  a  visit  to  the  rooms  of  the  Society ;  and 


A  ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  173 

I  shall  never  forget  the  expression  of  satisfaction 
that  flickered  over  her  severe  face  at  seeing  me, 
for  the  first  time,  at  my  desk.  From  that  day, 
a  general  softening  of  her  attitude  toward  me 
began. 

But  happy  and  absorbed  as  I  was  in  this  great 
interest,  I  was  never  quite  without  a  feeling  that 
my  father  might  not  be  pleased,  did  he  know  of 
my  fast-growing  intention  to  devote  the  energies 
of  my  life  to  it.  He  was  more  busy  than  ever 
down  town,  and  for  weeks  at  a  time  would  seem 
scarcely  aware  of  my  existence.  His  questions 
at  dinner  regarding  my  doings  were  rarely  more 
definite  than  to  ask  how  I  had  spent  the  day,  to 
which  any  reply  seemed  to  be  satisfactory.  I 
usually  said  that  I  had  been  studying;  and  had  it 
not  been  for  his  quiet  habit  of  observation,  with 
which  I  was  now -acquainted,  I  should  have  im 
agined  that  it  went  in  at  one  ear  and  out  at  the 
other.  I  never  volunteered  to  tell  him  the  char 
acter  of  my  studies;  but  though  he  never  made 
inquiries,  I  had  a  secret  impression  that  he  knew 
far  more  than  was  apparent  of  the  use  I  made 
of  my  time.  Nevertheless,  the  year  passed  with 
out  his  showing  any  signs  of  disapproval.  I  was 
so  bold  even  as  to  invite  Paul  Barr  once  or  twice 
to  dinner,  when  I  felt  that  he  needed  the  moral 


1/4          A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

tonic  of  a  glimpse  of  home  life  to  fortify  his 
good  resolutions.  So,  too,  I  did  not  hesitate  to 
practise  in  my  daily  mode  of  living  some  of  the 
doctrines  to  which  I  held  most  firmly,  —  such  as 
early  hours  of  rising  and  going  to  bed,  temperate 
diet  and  simplicity  of  raiment;  but  as  it  was  just 
as  incumbent  upon  me  to  avoid  the  other  ex 
treme,  the  changes  were  not  sufficiently  marked 
to  excite  attention. 

The  traveller  who  looks  back  at  night  upon  a 
highway  sees  a  long  trail  of  shadow,  broken  at 
recurring  intervals  by  the  blaze  of  lamps.  Such 
is  the  effect  of  life  in  retrospect.  Much  of  that 
which  we  remember  concerning  the  past  is  vague 
and  dim,  yet  here  and  there  along  the  road  some 
incident  stands  out  which  explains  and  illumines 
what  follows  and  precedes. 

It  is  difficult  for  me  to  analyze  more  closely 
than  I  have  done  my  feelings  and  thoughts  dur 
ing  the  period  in  which  I  studied  the  principles 
of  moderation.  But  the  events  of  three  days 
at  its  close  are  indelibly  impressed  upon  my 
memory.  For  several  weeks  during  the  autumn, 
Paul  Barr  had  been  hard  at  work  upon  a  picture 
in  regard  to  which  he  had  seen  fit  to  be  myste 
rious,  although  he  became  enthusiastic  as  to  its 
merits  before  it  was  nearly  finished.  No  piece 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  175 

of  painting  that  he  had  ever  attempted  was  so 
satisfactory  to  him,  he  said,  both  in  the  way  of 
conception  and  performance.  So  confident  was 
he  of  its  excellence,  that  I  began  at  last  to  share 
his  excitement,  and  expressed  a  wish  to  see  the 
masterpiece.  But  he  was  resolute  in  his  deter 
mination  that  no  one  should  see  it  until  its  com 
pletion,  and  least  of  all  I. 

Curious  as  I  felt  concerning  it,  —  for  one  could 
never  be  sure  that  Paul  Barr  was  not  a  genius,  — 
I  was  in  no  haste  to  have  the  picture  finished, 
for  the  artist's  own  sake.  So  deep  and  breath 
less  was  his  interest,  that  he  had  become  regular 
in  his  hours  and  habits.  He  seemed  to  realize 
that  the  best  work  required  a  steady  hand  and 
an  unwearied  eye.  If  I  took  some  slight  credit 
to  myself  for  this  change  in  his  methods,  it  was 
not  unnatural ;  and  yet  I  was  not  so  far  elated  as 
to  feel  wholly  confident  it  would  last.  When  he 
had  put  the  finishing  touch  to  his  wonderful 
creation,  would  he  abstain  from  the  dissipation 
and  self-indulgent  idleness  that  was  apt  to  follow 
any  concentration  on  his  part?  I  liked  to  believe 
that  this  would  be  the  case ;  and  as  I  cherished 
the  idea,  it  grew  almost  into  absolute  faith. 

I  have  said  that  Aunt  Agnes  and  I  were  on 
pleasant  terms ;  but  there  was  one  speck  on  the 


176          A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

mirror  of  her  serenity  which  threatened  at  times 
to  mar  the  whole.  It  was  my  intimacy  with  Mr. 
Barr.  Some  one  had  informed  her,  —  I  have 
no  doubt  it  was  Miss  Kingsley, —  that  he  was 
much  in  my  society,  and  that  we  behaved  like 
lovers.  I  had  learned  by  this  time  not  to  allow 
my  awe  for  Aunt  Agnes  to  prevent  me  from  de 
fending  myself;  but  I  found  exculpation  a 
difficult  matter  in  this  instance,  on  account  of 
the  character  of  the  other  offender.  She  styled 
my  attitude  hypocritical,  because  I  parleyed 
with  the  enemy.  Even  assuming  that  there 
was  no  flirtation  between  us,  —  of  which  she 
was  by  no  means  convinced,  —  what  right,  she 
asked,  had  I,  as  a  neophyte  of  recent  standing, 
to  be  on  terms  of  intimacy  with  the  arch  advo 
cate  of  the  school  of  thought  most  opposed  to 
that  which  I  professed? 

I  mention  this  in  order  to  explain  why  I  had 
of  late  been  more  chary  of  my  sympathy  in  my 
interviews  with  the  artist,  and  had  given  him 
strict  orders  that  he  was  not  to  send  me  any 
more  fruit  and  flowers.  However  much  I  micrht 

o 

desire  his  welfare,  self-respect  required  that  I 
should  not  let  our  friendship  become  so  con 
spicuous  as  to  attract  general  attention.  It  was 
shortly  after  I  issued  this  mandate  that  he  began 


A   ROMANTIC    YOUNG  LADY.  \TJ 

the  picture  to  which  I  have  referred ;  but  the 
immediate  result  of  my  words  was  a  fit  of  angry 
despondency. 

Two  days  before  Christmas  he  came  to  me 
and  said  the  picture  would  be  finished  and 
ready  for  exhibition  on  Christmas  Eve,  and  that 
he  wished  me  to  see  it  first  of  all.  Would  I 
come  to  his  rooms  on  that  afternoon?  As  he 
saw  me  hesitate,  he  clasped  his  hands  with  so 
piteous  an  expression  that  I  chose  not  to  say 
no.  Why  not,  after  all,  thought  I.  It  was  un 
conventional  to  be  sure.  But  matrons  were  out 
of  date  and  superfluous  in  the  artistic  world. 
Did  not  Miss  Kingsley  go  about  freely  to  studios 
and  wherever  the  needs  of  her  profession  called 
her?  If  she  were  safe  from  familiarity,  why 
should  not  I  be?  I  had  a  strong  belief  in  the 
magic  circle  of  respect  which  surrounds  a  thor 
oughly  refined  woman.  If  I  refused  the  artist's 
request,  I  was  certain  to  disappoint  him  sorely. 
It  was  a  small  enough  favor,  I  argued,  to  grant 
to  one  who  had  been  striving  bravely  to  over 
come  his  evil  nature  at  my  instigation. 

Mr.  Barr's  studio  was  up  seven  flights  of  stairs 

in  the  French  roof  of  a  building  which  had  no 

elevator,  and  had  doubtless  been  chosen  by  him 

on  account  of  cheapness  and  light.     Breathless, 

12 


1/8          A   ROMANTIC    YOUNG  LADY. 

I  paused  on  the  last  landing  on  the  afternoon  of 
the  day  before  Christmas,  and  in  response  to  my 
knock  was  greeted  by  the  black  beard  and  large 
eyes  of  the  artist  appearing  round  the  edge  of 
the  door.  As  he  threw  it  wide  open  he  gave  a 
cry  of  pleasure,  singing  the  while  at  the  top  of 
his  lungs  the  air  he  played  that  evening  at  Miss 
Kingsley's  when  he  flung  himself  down  before 
the  piano  after  tea. 

"  At  last,  at  last,  my  goddess  !  I  have  prayed 
for  this  hour,"  he  said,  bowing  low. 

I  stopped  short  in  the  middle  of  the  room. 
"  If  you  do  not  wish  me  to  leave  you  instantly, 
you  must  cease  all  such  language  and  unseemly 
conduct.  I  have  come  to  see  your  picture,  Mr. 
Barr." 

"  I  will.  Believe  me,  I  will.  I  will  be  quiet 
as  a  lamb,  though  I  am  so  happy  I  could  dance 
a  minuet  with  Satan  and  not  tire.  But  I  will 
obey  you.  Do  not  be  uneasy.  Sit  here.  No, 
here.  The  light  is  better.  There  it  is.  Look, 
finished  !  My  masterpiece,  my  ideal !  It  is  only 
to  lift  that  curtain,  and  I  shall  be  famous." 

Despite  his  words  he  was  jumping  about  with 
nervous,  excited  gestures.  I  sat  in  the  arm 
chair  he  had  indicated,  and  looked  from  him  to 
the  picture  on  the  easel  over  which  a  drapery 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  179 

was  flung,  and  back  again  to  him.  For  an  in 
definable  feeling  of  dread  was  coming  over  me, 
as  I  noted  the  disordered  dress  and  the  blood 
shot  eyes  of  my  strange  host.  He  had  failed, 
then,  to  keep  his  pledges ;  had  yielded  to  temp 
tation.  My  hoped-for  regeneration  was  a  failure, 
and  all  was  as  it  used  to  be  with  him.  But  yet 
it  might  be  overwork  and  the  strain  of  a  night 
without  sleep  that  gave  him  such  a  dissipated 
aspect.  I  tried  to  think  it  was  so.  Meanwhile 
he  had  seated  himself  at  an  old  worn-out  piano, 
and  looking  across  to  me  was  pounding  out  bar 
after  bar  of  passionate  music. 

"  Really,  this  is  too  much  !  I  cannot  stay  and 
endure  this  absurdity,"  I  cried,  and  I  walked  to 
the  door. 

But  he  darted  at  me  and  seized  my  hand  with 
fierceness  and  the  grip  of  a  vice,  so  that  I  shook 
with  fear. 

"  You  shall  not  go,  not  until  you  have  seen 
her, — her  I  adore.  Sit  there!"  he  thundered; 
and  then,  with  an  apparent  sense  of  his  own 
harshness,  he  fell  on  his  knees  before  me  and 
kissed  my  fingers  with  feverish  frenzy.  "  My 
queen !  my  own !  "  he  cried. 

I  was  so  frightened  I  could  not  speak.  What 
was  I  to  do?  To  scream  would  not  have  availed 


l8o          A  ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

me  in  that  attic,  —  and  yet  I  wonder  now  I  did 
not  try  to  scream.  I  tore  my  hands  away  from 
him  and  sprang  from  my  seat,  he  not  seeking  to 
restrain  me,  but  still  kneeling  and  gazing  up  at 
me  with  wild  but  penitent  eyes. 

"  Open  the  door,  sir,  and  let  me  go !  That  is 
the  least  return  you  can  make  for  your  rude 
ness,"  I  said. 

"  No,  no,  no  !  "  he  cried  with  a  wail  of  grief. 
"  I  have  insulted  my  goddess.  I  have  broken 
her  heart.  She  will  not  speak  to  me.  But  look, 
look !  "  he  said,  darting  again  toward  the  canvas 
and  throwing  aside  the  drapery.  "  She  is  here  ! 
I  have  her  here  forever.  No  one  can  rob  me  of 
her  now." 

Fancy  my  emotions.  It  was  a  portrait  of 
myself! 

I  shall  never  forget  the  tipsy  cunning  of  Paul 
Barr's  expression,  as  he  watched  the  effect  of  his 
legerdemain.  The  portrait  was  excellent;  it 
was,  indeed,  a  masterpiece.  I  was  sufficiently  in 
my  senses  to  appreciate  that,  though  my  absorb 
ing  thought  was  how  to  get  out  of  the  room. 
For  some  moments  we  each  kept  our  pose,  —  I 
standing  surveying  the  picture,  and  he  with  his 
eyes  bent  upon  me,  leaning  against  the  easel 
which  was  in  the  pathway  to  the  door. 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  l8l 

Suddenly,  and  to  my  intense  surprise,  he 
pronounced  my  name,  — 

"Virginia!  " 

It  was  a  whisper  almost,  and  spoken  as  one 
might  breathe  the  name  of  a  saint. 

"  Virginia!  " 

Then  with  a  low  cry  he  stepped  forward  a 
pace  or  two  and  dropped  on  his  knees  again. 

"  I  love  you,  I  adore  you.  I  have  broken 
your  heart,  my  angel,  but  it  was  love  that 
forced  me  to  it.  Forgive  me,  and  tell  me  if 
you  can  that  there  is  hope,  —  a  shadow  is 
enough.  Hope  that  I  may  some  day  press 
you  to  this  bosom  and  call  you  mine,  —  mine 
for  eternity  !  Virginia,  hear  me  !  —  do  not  look 
so  cold  and  cruel ;  you  are  a  stone,  while  I 
am  burning!  I  have  loved  you  since  the  first 
moment  I  saw  you.  I  wish  my  heart  were 
dust  for  you  to  trample  on,  if  it  may  not 
beat  forever  close  to  yours.  With  you  as  my 
bride  I  could  conquer  worlds.  I  could  become 
an  Angelo,  a  Rubens.  Without  you  I  shall 
die !  " 

He  seized  my  hands  again  and  covered  them 
with  kisses. 

"  Mr.  Barr,  Mr.  Barr !  I  cannot  listen  to  you 
further.  Let  me  go,  —  you  are  mad." 


1 82          A   ROMANTIC    YOUNG  LADY. 

"Yes,  I  am  mad,  —  mad  with  love  for  you, 
sweet  Virginia." 

I  tried  to  speak  calmly,  yet  decisively,  though 
from  fear  and  pity  I  was  trembling  like  a  leaf. 
I  told  him  that  I  could  not  grant  what  he  asked. 
I  loved  him  as  a  friend,  as  a  brother  almost,  and 
would  do  anything  to  serve  him  but  consent  to 
become  his  wife.  His  studio  was  no  place  for 
such  a  conversation,  I  said.  Let  him  come  to 
my  house,  after  he  had  thought  it  over.  He 
would  agree  then  that  he  had  been  carried  away 
by  the  impulse  of  the  moment,  by  the  tension 
of  his  overstrained  nerves,  and  that  a  marriage 
between  us  would  be  an  absurdity.  Were  not 
our  tastes  and  habits  totally  unlike? 

Perhaps  these  were  no  words  to  address  to  an 
overwrought  soul,  mastered  by  passion.  But,  as 
I  have  said,  I  was  terrified  and  bewildered.  The 
strong  desire  I  felt  to  treat  him  with  all  the  gen 
tleness  and  tender  consideration  I  could  muster, 
must  have  been  to  some  extent  neutralized  by 
my  anxiety  to  put  an  end  to  the  interview.  As 
I  spoke,  his  eyes  seemed  to  grow  darker  and  to 
glow  with  fire,  and  the  cunning,  satyr-like  ex 
pression  I  had  noticed  before  to  intensify. 

"  Pardon  me,"  I  said,  "  for  the  pain  I  cause 
you.  My  presence  can  only  increase  your  suf- 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  183 

fering.     I  will  leave  you,  and  if  you  wish,  we 
will  talk  of  this  to-morrow." 

"  To-morrow  !  "  he  answered ;  "  there  may  be 
no  to-morrow.  It  is  still  to-day  !  still  to-day  !  " 
he  repeated  with  a  sort  of  chuckle.  "  I  will  live 
to-day,  though  I  may  die  to-morrow.  My  god 
dess,  my  queen  is  here,  and  love  —  love — love  ! " 
With  a  bound  he  folded  me  in  his  huge  arms 
and  pressed  my  face  against  his  lips  three  times 
in  a  mad  embrace. 

"  Coward !  wretch !  "  I  screamed ;  but  I  was 
powerless  as  a  babe. 

He  let  me  go. 

"  I  will  not  hurt  you,  my  own  true  love. 
A  kiss  can  do  no  harm.  Once  more !  "  and 
he  threw  his  arms  wide  open  for  a  fresh  em 
brace. 

But  another  voice  interrupted  his  purpose. 
"  Coward !  you  shall  not  touch  a  hair  of  her 
head." 

It  was  Mr.  Spence  who  spoke ;  we  had  not 
noticed  the  door  open.  He  strode  forward  and 
placed  himself  between  me  and  the  artist.  On 
the  threshold  stood  Miss  Kingsley,  and  I  felt 
the  blood  rush  to  my  cheeks  as  our  eyes  met.  I 
would  gladly  have  given  half  my  fortune  to  blot 
out  the  past  few  minutes. 


1 84          A    ROMANTIC  YOUNG  LADY. 

"Is  this  the  courtesy  of  Bohemia?"  asked 
Mr.  Spence,  breaking  the  silence  that  followed. 
He  was  pale,  and  his  lips  were  set,  and  there  had 
never  seemed  to  me  so  little  difference  in  stature 
between  him  and  Mr.  Barr. 

"  It  is  love,"  was  the  answer.  "  The  rapture  of 
those  kisses  will  be  on  my  lips  to  my  dying  day." 
The  artist  began  to  troll  the  words  of  a  mad 
song  of  his  own  composition  I  had  heard  before. 

"  Paul  Barr,  though  we  have  long  differed  on 
many  subjects,  we  have  been  friends.  But  after 
what  I  have  heard  and  seen  to-day,  we  must 
meet  henceforth  as  strangers,"  said  Mr.  Spence, 
with  a  fire  I  had  never  known  him  display 
before. 

"  I  adore  her,  and  I  am  human.  See  there  !  " 
he  pointed  to  the  portrait,  which  hitherto  had 
escaped  their  attention.  "  I  would  give  even 
that  for  another  kiss." 

At  the  sight  of  the  picture  Mr.  Spence  gave 
a  start,  for  the  likeness  was  marvellous.  As  for 
Miss  Kingsley,  she  whispered  in  my  ear, — 

"  Did  you  sit  for  it,  dear?  " 

"No,  I  did  not,"  I  answered. 

"  Detestable  philosophy !  "  continued  Mr. 
Spence,  looking  from  the  canvas  to  the  artist. 
"There  was  the  making  of  a  man  in  you,  —  this 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  185 

portrait  shows  it.     But  it  is  too  late.     The  brute 
is  rampant,  and  genius  is  no  more." 

"  She  could  have  moulded  me  in  her  hands 
like  clay,"  said  Paul  Barr.  I  could  not  help 
feeling  touched  by  the  despair  in  his  voice. 

"  How  distinctly  piteous  !  "  murmured  Miss 
Kingsley. 

"  I  have  no  more  to  say.  You  have  heard 
my  decision,  Paul  Barr." 

Mr.  Spence  seemed  greatly  moved  and  ex 
cited.  I  could  see  him  tremble.  It  was  very 
bitter  to  me  to  feel  that  on  my  account  friends 
of  a  lifetime  were  to  be  separated.  The  big 
artist  pulled  at  his  beard,  and  with  another  of 
his  faun-like  looks,  exclaimed,  — 

"  I  understand.  You  want  her  for  yourself. 
But  you  cannot  rob  me  of  those  kisses,  ha !  ha ! 
They  shall  lie  in  the  grave  with  me,  and  I  shall 
still  smile." 

Mr.  Spence  grew  paler  yet.  He  seemed  about 
to  speak,  but  controlling  himself  by  an  effort 
turned  to  leave  the  room,  motioning  us  to  pre 
cede  him. 

"  How  distinctly  piteous !  "  repeated  Miss 
Kingsley,  as  we  went  downstairs.  "  He  acted 
shamefully,  of  course,  and  there  is  no  excuse 
for  his  conduct.  But  though  it  is  impossible  to 


186          A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

justify  him,  I  can  pity  him,  can't  you?  His  na 
ture  is  so  impressionable ;  and  when  he  is  inter 
ested  in  anything  there  is  no  half  way  with  him : 
he  wants  the  whole  or  nothing.  If  you  will  ex 
cuse  my  saying  so,  several  of  us  have  been  afraid 
of  something  of  this  sort.  I  wanted  to  warn 
you ;  but  I  said  to  myself,  '  It  may  be  Virginia 
really  likes  him,'  so  I  decided  not  to  speak.  If 
I  had  done  so,  all  this  might  have  been  pre 
vented,  for  it  was  very  evident  to  the  rest  of  us 
that  he  was  desperately  in  love  with  you.  And 
by 'such  a  man,  of  course  the  very  smallest  marks 
of  favor  are  construed  as  more  significant  than 
open  encouragement  would  be  by  a  less  poetic 
temperament.  I  have  no  doubt  the  poor  fellow 
wears  over  his  heart  every  rose-bud  you  ever 
gave  him,  and  knows  by  rote  every  word  of 
sympathy  you  ever  said  to  him.  And  then 
that  portrait, — what  volumes  it  tells  of  itself! 
Fancy  that  ardent  soul  toiling  over  the  canvas 
to  reproduce  from  memory  your  image  (you 
tell  me  you  did  not  sit  to  him),  and  when  the 
masterpiece  of  his  life  was  finished,  inviting  you 
to  his  studio  (as  I  suppose  he  did),  and  then 
in  a  moment  of  deep  and  passionate  love  cast 
ing  himself  at  your  feet  —  and  —  and  forgetting 
himself !  Oh,  Virginia,  there  is  something  exquis- 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  187 

itely  pathetic  in  the  thought !  But  how  fortunate 
too  for  you  that  we  arrived  when  we  did !  In 
his  sober  senses  Paul  Barr  would  rather  die  than 
injure  a  hair  of  your  head;  but  none  of  us,  how 
ever  self-reliant,  is  free  from  dread  in  the  pres 
ence  of  a  man  who  has  been  over-indulging  in 
stimulants,  even  though  sure  of  his  affection. 
My  poor  dear,  how  you  must  have  suffered ! 
What  will  your  Aunt  Agnes  say  ?  It  was  only  two 
days  ago  she  said  to  me  she  hoped  the  affair 
was  at  an  end.  I  told  her  then  that  one  can 
never  be  sure  of  a  thoroughly  Bohemian  nature ; 
it  is  liable  to  burst  into  flame  at  the  moment  one 
least  expects  it.  The  result  shows  the  correct 
ness  of  my  prediction.  Poor  Mr.  Barr !  what 
will  become  of  him  I  wonder?  I  only  hope  he 
will  not  attempt  his  own  life,  —  that  would  be 
worse  than  anything." 

Neither  Mr.  Spence  nor  I  had  spoken  as  she 
rattled  on  in  this  manner,  going  down  the  long 
flights  of  stairs  to  the  street.  There  was  just 
enough  of  truth  in  her  remarks  to  make  my 
frame  of  mind  still  more  wretched,  and  I  could 
barely  refrain  from  requesting  her  to  keep  still. 
Mr.  Spence  was  evidently  much  disturbed  by 
what  had  occurred.  The  expression  of  his 
face  showed  that  he  was  under  the  influence 


1 88          A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

of  violent  emotions.  Once  or  twice,  too,  I 
saw  him  glance  almost  impatiently  at  Miss 
Kingsley,  as  if  her  prattle  annoyed  him.  But 
she  was  so  brimming  over  with  volubility  as  to 
be  blind  to  everything  but  the  fancies  she  saw 
fit  to  evoke  in  regard  to  the  scene  she  had 
just  witnessed. 

When,  however,  we  reached  a  crossing  of 
streets  where  her  way  separated  from  mine, 
Mr.  Spence  said,  in  a  tone  that  for  him  was 
abrupt,  "  I  shall  see  Miss  Harlan  home." 

Miss  Kingsley  held  my  hand  for  a  parting 
shot.  "  You  must  not  think  me  unsympathetic, 
dear,  because  I  feel  sorry  for  poor  Paul  Barr.  I 
knew  him  before  you  did,  you  know;  and  at 
one  time  we  were  quite  as  intimate,  though  in 
a  different  way.  If  you  feel  faint,  as  I  should 
think  you  must  after  such  a  dreadful  experience, 
why  don't  you  stop  at  an  apothecary's  and  get 
some  salts?  I  always  intend  to  carry  salts  with 
me ;  they  are  so  convenient  on  an  occasion  of 
this  sort.  I  do  hope  you  will  feel  better  to 
morrow,  dear.  I  shall  call  the  first  thing  in  the 
morning  to  inquire  about  you.  Good-night." 

For  some  minutes  Mr.  Spence  and  I  re 
mained  silent.  But  now  that  Miss  Kingsley 
was  gone  I  felt  an  impulse  to  thank  him,  and 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG   LADY.  189 

to  explain,  so  far  as  was  possible,  my  presence 
at  the  studio. 

"  Believe  me,  Mr.  Spence,  I  am  very  grateful 
to  you  for  your  aid,"  I  began.  "  It  was  very 
inconsiderate  and  imprudent  of  me  to  go  there 
alone ;  but  he  was  so  anxious  for  me  to  see  the 
picture  before  any  one  else,  that  I  was  foolish 
enough  to  consider  it  allowable.  I  had  no  idea 
that  it  was  a  portrait  of  me,  and  none  that  he 
cared  for  me  in  the  way  it  seems  he  does.  I 
have  tried  to  be  kind  to  him,  for  I  felt  he  was 
lonely,  and  might  be  saved  from  excesses  by  a 
sympathetic  influence.  But  I  see  my  mistake 
now.  I  ought  to  have  known." 

An  indefinable  wish  that  Mr.  Spence  should 
know  the  exact  truth  loosened  my  tongue. 

"I  understand  —  I  understand  perfectly,"  he 
said  in  an  emotional  tone.  "  It  is  I  that  am  to 
blame.  I  might  have  prevented  it,"  he  added, 
as  though  speaking  to  himself. 

Surprise  prevented  me  from  saying  more,  for 
I  could  not  see  how  Mr.  Spence  was  in  any  way 
responsible.  Nor  did  he,  on  his  part,  continue 
the  conversation.  In  five  minutes  we  were  at 
my  door. 

"Will  you  not  come  in,  Mr.  Spence?  " 

"  No,  not  to-night."     He  paused  an  instant. 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

"  At  what  hour  are  you  likely  to  be  at  home 
and  disengaged  to-morrow?"  he  asked  with 
suddenness. 

"To-morrow?  At  almost  any  time.  Shall 
we  say  four?  " 

Mr.  Spence  bowed  by  way  of  acquiesence. 
He  seemed  so  stiff  that  I  feared  he  was  offended 
with  me.  But  if  so,  why  did  he  wish  to  come 
to-morrow? 

"  Before  you  go,  you  must  let  me  thank  you 
once  more  for  having  saved  me  from  a  very 
awkward  predicament,"  I  said,  holding  out  my 
hand.  "  What  should  I  have  done  if  you  had 
not  arrived?"  I  shuddered  involuntarily. 

"  Poor  girl,  how  you  must  have  suffered  !  "  he 
exclaimed  in  a  voice  full  of  feeling.  Then  he 
turned  abruptly  and  left  me. 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  191 


VI. 

A  S  soon  as  I  was  safe  at  home,  a  terrible  re- 
action  followed.  I  went  to  bed  prostrated 
physically,  and  sick  at  heart.  True  as  it  doubt 
less  was  that  Paul  Barr  would  never  voluntarily 
have  insulted  me,  I  had  deliberately  exposed 
myself  to  the  tipsy  eccentricities  of  a  man 
whose  habits  were  not  unknown.  Might  I  not 
also  have  discovered,  if  I  had  been  wholly 
candid  with  myself,  that  there  was  genuine 
feeling  in  the  words  of  devotion  he  had  so 
frequently  whispered  to  me,  and  that  under 
the  extravagance  of  his  behavior  there  lurked 
a  vein  of  real  sentiment?  So  much  is  apparent 
and  stands  out  in  another  light  when  one  looks 
back  instead  of  forward !  But  this  much  was 
true  at  least,  —  I  was  disillusioned  forever  of 
the  hope  of  successfully  proselytizing  Bohemia 
under  the  guise  of  sympathy.  Mingled  with  the 
bitter  tears  of  regret  for  the  suffering  of  which  I 
had  been  the  cause  were  resolves  that  henceforth 
I  would  not  sneer  at  conventionality  and  custom. 


192  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

However  much  I  might  be  devoted  to  thought 
and  study,  I  would  practise  the  ordinary  pre 
cautions  of  my  sex,  and  recognize  the  uses  of 
matrons. 

The  next  day  was  Christmas,  and  before  I  re 
turned  from  church  Miss  Kingsley  had  called. 
There  was  a  letter  from  Paul  Barr  awaiting  me, — 
and  such  a  letter !  In  it  humiliation,  despair, 
poetry,  and  passion  were  intermingled.  Tears 
had  blurred  the  pages,  and  I  wept  in  turn  as  I 
read  the  pitiful  sentences.  He  could  not  hope 
for  pardon,  he  said,  but  he  should  never  cease 
to  love.  He  wished  to  die.  What  would  be 
fame  unless  shared  with  the  idol  of  his  soul? 
Existence  was  for  him  henceforth  a  dreary 
waste ;  and  yet  his  only  fault  had  been  that  in 
the  ecstasy  of  heaven-sent  passion  he  had  over 
leaped  the  bounds  imposed  by  human  pettiness. 

As  I  read  on,  his  burning  words  seemed  al 
most  intended  as  a  defence.  He  had  outraged 
my  feelings,  and  for  that  he  was  to-day  suffer 
ing  exquisite  torture,  he  said ;  but  in  the  next 
paragraph  he  railed  against  the  social  preju 
dices  of  the  age  and  the  luke-warm  character 
of  contemporary  love.  In  another  century,  he 
prophesied,  the  artificial  barriers  imposed  by  a 
narrow  and  fast-rotting  civilization  would  be 


A   ROMANTIC    YOUNG  LADY.  193 

swept  away  by  the  mighty  wave  of  passion 
which,  pent  up  in  the  bosoms  of  strong  men 
through  a  score  of  generations,  was  about  to 
inundate  the  world.  Under  the  impulse  of  this 
idea,  the  closing  portions  of  his  twelve-paged 
letter  became  a  fierce  tirade  against  the  existing 
state  of  society;  but  the  last  sentence  was  so 
astonishing  to  me  individually,  that  I  blushed 
with  the  acuteness  of  my  feelings.  "  Believing 
as  I  do,"  he  wrote,  "  in  the  expansion  and  over 
flow  of  the  human  soul,  I  would  fain  have  saved 
you  from  the  cramped  and  bloodless  nature  to 
which  you  are  about  to  ally  yourself  in  prefer 
ence  to  mine.  He  has  robbed  me  of  you,  and 
thereby  broken  the  last  tie  which  held  together 
our  conflicting  dispositions.  With  him  you  can 
never  be  supremely  happy  or  supremely  miser 
able, — which  seems  to  me  a  lot  so  wretched  that 
my  heart,  though  heavy  with  the  anguish  of  its 
own  sorrow,  is  wrung  more  with  pity  than  with 
pain." 

His  meaning  was  obvious,  and  I  was  still  sit 
ting  with  this  strange  epistle  in  my  lap  when 
Mr.  Spence  arrived.  It  would  be  affectation  to 
say  I  was  greatly  surprised,  when,  after  a  few 
moments,  he  made  to  me  a  confession  of  his 
love.  From  his  words  of  the  previous  evening, 
13 


194          A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

from  a  host  of  little  indications  which  they  had 
recalled  to  me,  and  finally  from  the  jealous  sus 
picions  of  the  unhappy  artist,  I  was  not  wholly 
unprepared  for  this  result.  There  was  nothing 
in  the  manner  of  his  declaration  that  calls  for 
mention.  It  was,  as  he  said,  a  confession  long 
deferred  and  struggled  against,  but  he  had  been 
mastered  at  last  by  a  power  stronger  than  him 
self.  He  had  come,  he  said,  to  make  this  ac 
knowledgment  of  his  feelings,  no  matter  what 
might  be  the  result;  for  there  was  something 
he  must  ask  me  to  listen  to,  which  it  would  be 
needful  that  I  should  know  before  he  could  dare 
to  ask  me  to  become  his  wife,  or  I  should  be 
able  to  answer. 

I  felt  I  knew  what  he  was  about  to  say,  and 
was  not  mistaken.  The  question  with  most 
young  people,  he  said,  was  how  to  find  the 
means  upon  which  to  marry;  but  in  his  case 
those  means  were  already  provided,  and  a  diffi 
culty  of  a  precisely  opposite  character  stood 
between  him  and  me.  I  must  have  perceived 
by  this  time  his  intense  devotion  to  the  system 
of  philosophy  of  which  he  was  the  chief  advo 
cate.  He  had  sacrificed  everything  in  life  to 
that  one  end,  and  he  was  prepared  to  do  so  so 
long  as  he  was  spared  to  labor.  To  practise  in 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG   LADY.  195 

every  way,  so  far  as  was  possible,  the  principles 
he  professed  was  the  only  escape,  in  his  opinion, 
from  that  worst  stigma  of  would-be-reformers, — 
hypocrisy.  Among  the  leading  obstacles,  in  his 
judgment,  to  a  well-ordered  life  was  the  accumu 
lation  of  property  beyond  enough  to  satisfy  the 
common  needs  and  comforts  of  life.  He  had 
taken  the  vow  of  approximate  poverty,  —  not 
the  extreme  obligation  of  the  clerical  orders, 
but  a  limited,  moderate  view  in  accordance  with 
the  views  just  expressed.  In  seeking  a  partner 
to  aid  him  with  her  support  and  sympathy  in 
the  great  up-hill  struggle  to  which  he  had  con 
secrated  his  powers,  he  had  wished  to  make 
choice  of  a  woman  with  but  small  means,  if 
any;  but  fate  had  willed  otherwise.  Once  al 
ready —  he  said  that  he  desired  to  conceal  noth 
ing —  he  had  offered  himself  to  a  young  lady  of 
large  property,  for  whom  he  felt  a  deep  attach 
ment.  He  had  asked  her,  as  he  was  about  to  ask 
me,  to  give  herself  to  him  in  return  for  his  love, 
without  her  fortune.  With  that  she  was  free 
to  do  what  she  wished ;  it  would  be  easy  to 
dispose  of  it.  After  debate  she  refused  him. 
This  was  six  years  ago ;  and  until  he  saw  me 
no  thought  of  love  had  refreshed  his  heart 
On  that  night  at  Miss  Kingsley's,  when  he  saw 


196          A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

me  for  the  first  time  and  before  he  knew  of  my 
father's  wealth,  he  loved  me,  he  said,  almost 
without  knowing  it;  but  from  the  moment  of 
hearing  the  words  that  warned  him  of  the  bar 
rier  between  us,  he  had  striven  to  drive  my 
image  from  his  thoughts.  Ever  since,  with  all 
the  might  and  resolution  of  which  he  was  ca 
pable,  he  had  struggled  against  his  love,  but  in 
vain.  He  had  tried  to  avoid  my  presence ;  he 
had  resisted  the  temptation  to  become  my 
teacher  at  the  time  I  consulted  him  on  the  sub 
ject;  and  subsequently,  when  we  were  brought 
into  constant  contact  at  the  rooms  of  the  soci 
ety,  he  had  offended  his  own  sense  of  polite 
ness  by  the  reserve  of  his  behavior  toward  me. 
But,  despite  all  this,  he  had  felt  the  ground 
gradually  slipping  from  beneath  his  feet.  A 
chance  look  or  smile  nullified  in  an  instant  the 
self-denial  of  weeks.  He  had  been  many  times 
already  on  the  verge  of  an  avowal.  He  had 
seen  and  heard  from  others  of  the  intimacy 
between  Mr.  Barr  and  me,  and  been  tortured 
by  the  pangs  of  jealousy.  But  the  events  of 
yesterday  had  made  it  impossible  for  him  to  re 
main  silent  any  longer.  He  loved  me  with  all 
the  fervor  of  his  heart,  and  it  was  vain  for  him 
to  deny  it. 


A    ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  197 

He  paused,  but  I  remained  silent.  Spoken 
in  his  soft  melodious  voice  his  words  seemed  to 
soothe  me,  by  way  of  contrast  to  the  storm  of 
passion  I  had  listened  to  so  recently.  I  did  not 
try  to  think.  I  felt  that  he  had  not  finished,  and 
I  wished  to  hear  him  to  the  end.  Perhaps  I 
was  conscious,  too,  that  it  would  be  impossible 
for  me  to  come  to  a  decision  on  the  spot. 

One  circumstance,  he  continued,  had  given 
him  hope  that  I  might  feel  ready  to  make  the 
sacrifice  he  asked,  provided  that  I  returned  his 
love,  —  and  that  was  the  earnest  spirit  of  interest 
I  had  shown  in  the  work  he  had  undertaken. 
There  was  no  one  among  his  followers  who 
seemed  so  completely  zealous,  and  who  had  so 
unreservedly  labored  for  the  cause  of  Modera 
tion,  as  I.  If,  then,  my  heart  by  chance  were 
interested  in  the  founder  as  well  as  in  the  sys 
tem,  it  might  seem  no  very  serious  matter  to 
disclaim  the  wealth  I  should  inherit  from  my 
father.  It  appeared  to  him  that  a  nature  like 
mine  might  find  a  higher  and  more  entire  happi 
ness  in  the  pursuit  of  ideal  truth  than  in  the 
enjoyment  of  an  excess  of  money  contrary  to 
the  whispers  of  a  sensitive  conscience.  And  if 
at  the  same  time  this  renunciation  of  that  which 
less  enlightened  souls  esteemed  as  a  chief  good 


198  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

should  be  abetted  by  the  sympathy  of  a  com 
panion  soul,  what  bliss  might  not  be  in  store  for 
two  lives  so  wedded  to  progress  and  to  love ! 

Such  was  the  substance  of  Mr.  Spence's  com 
munication  ;  and  when  he  ceased,  my  feelings 
were  still  so  doubtful  that  I  sat  looking  into  space 
as  though  to  find  counsel  elsewhere  than  from  my 
own  heart.  He  had  spoken,  —  deemed  it  only 
right  to  speak,  he  said,  — •  before  closing,  of  the 
criticism  to  which  so  unusual  an  act  would  expose 
me.  I  should  be  called  eccentric,  and  doubtless 
by  many  crazy;  and  the  terms  of  contempt  and 
ridicule  already  cast  at  him  would  be  visited,  in 
equal  degree,  upon  his  wife.  It  was  this  idea  of 
martyrdom,  joined  to  the  deep  interest  I  had  in 
the  doctrines  of  Moderation,  that  now  took  pos 
session  of  my  fancy  and  made  me  incline  to  ac 
cede  to  his  request.  Not  that  I  sought  ostracism 
and  abuse,  —  far  from  it ;  the  very  mention  of 
these  things  oppressed  me  with  dread.  But 
there  was  to  me  an  inspiring  sense  of  nobility 
in  the  thought  of  a  man  giving  up  his  life  to  the 
prosecution  of  a  great  truth  indifferent  to  scoffs 
and  sneers,  that  made  the  blood  course  more 
swiftly  through  my  veins.  If  such  a  one  could 
be  made  happier,  and  his  power  of  usefulness 
increased  by  any  act  of  mine,  no  sacrifice 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  199 

seemed  too  large.  For  what  was  I,  or  what 
was  the  value  of  anything  I  might  do,  com 
pared  with  the  progress  of  humanity  as  a 
whole?  I  could  not  give  him  love,  perhaps, 
and  the  freshness  of  a  young  heart;  but  sym 
pathy  and  encouragement  and  the  co-operation 
of  a  mind  deeply  interested  in  the  cause  with 
which  he  was  identified,  might  do  much  to 
make  the  struggle  more  easy  and  success 
speedier.  Was  I  likely  ever  to  meet  with  any 
one  more  congenial?  What  better  use  could 
I  make  of  my  life? 

These  thoughts  came  to  me  not  only  then, 
but  afterwards  when  Mr.  Spence  had.  gone  and 
I  was  left  alone  to  make  up  my  mind.  I  had 
told  him  that  he  must  give  me  time ;  it  was 
impossible  for  me  to  decide  at  the  moment. 
What  he  had  said  was  so  bewildering,  and  the 
condition  of  any  possible  marriage  between  us 
of  so  serious  a  character,  that  I  was  at  a  loss 
for  an  answer.  But  I  warned  him  not  to  feel 
too  much  encouragement  because  I  did  not 
give  him  an  immediate  reply;  the  chances 
were  more  than  likely  that  upon  reflection  I 
should  feel  what  he  asked  to  be  impossible.  "  I 
respect  you  thoroughly,  Mr.  Spence,  and  I  am 
much  interested  in  your  work;  but  I  do  not 


200          A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG   LADY. 

think  I  should  ever  love  you  as  you  would  wish. 
I  feel  quite  sure  of  it;  but  if  you  are  disposed 
to  let  me  think  it  over  instead  of  giving  you  at 
once  an  unfavorable  reply,  I  am  willing  to  do 
so." 

Both  my  aunts  dined  with  us,  it  being  Christ 
mas  day,  and  directly  upon  her  arrival  Aunt 
Helen  remarked  upon  my  paleness.  It  was  an 
unusually  silent  meal  for  a  Christmas  gather 
ing.  My  father,  as  I  remembered  later,  seemed 
absorbed  and  dull.  Aunt  Agnes  had  shown  me 
by  a  glance  that  the  events  of  the  previous  day 
were  not  unknown  to  her.  She  sat  glum  and 
statuesque ;  but  I  did  not  attempt  either  to 
brave  or  to  mollify  her  displeasure,  for  I  knew 
that  compared  with  the  secret  in  my  possession, 
the  wretched  affair  with  Paul  Barr  would  seem 
to  her  a  mere  trifle.  I  wondered,  however,  what 
she  would  think  of  such  a  match.  How  sur 
prised  she  would  be,  and  how  disappointed 
probably  in  Mr.  Spence  !  —  for  I  had  little 
question  that  she  regarded  him  as  too  much 
engrossed  in  his  work  ever  to  think  of  mar 
riage.  Indeed,  she  had  said  as  much  to  me 
when  I  spoke  of  Miss  Kingslcy  in  that  connec 
tion.  Poor  Miss  Kingsley !  it  would  be  a  cruel, 
bitter  blow  to  her.  I  believed  her  to  be  in 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  2OI 

love  with  Mr.  Spence,  so  far  as  it  was  possible 
for  any  woman  to  be  interested  in  a  man  who 
had  not  made  her  an  offer ;  and  with  the  par 
donable  sense  of  triumph  I  experienced  was 
mingled  some  pity.  She  was  the  first  to  detect 
the  infatuation  I  had  awakened  in  him,  but  his 
subsequent  reserve  had  almost  lulled  her  jeal 
ousy  to  sleep.  I  knew  in  advance  what  Aunt 
Helen  would  think.  She  would  regard  my  con 
duct  as  little  short  of  madness,  and  all  sympathy 
between  us  would  be  at  an  end  forever. 

But  it  was  my  father's  opinion  on  the  subject 
that  I  most  feared  to  face.  I  could  not  doubt 
what  his  verdict  would  be.  It  was  the  ambition 
of  his  later  life  to  see  me  use  well  the  fortune 
he  had  accumulated.  By  the  marriage  I  was 
contemplating  I  should  disappoint  these  expec 
tations,  for  I  could  not  suppose  he  would  regard 
as  a  good  use  of  the  money  a  disclaimer  of  the 
fortune  he  wished  to  leave  me.  It  was  really 
between  him  and  Mr.  Spence  that  I  must 
decide. 

This  was  what  presented  itself  to  me  clearly, 
as  my  father  and  I  sat  together  in  the  library 
after  my  aunts  had  gone.  It  was  past  midnight, 
and  yet  neither  of  us  had  thought  apparently 
of  going  to  bed.  He  was  smoking,  and  like 


202  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

myself  busy  with  his  own  reflections.  It  seemed 
to  me  that  he  looked  tired  and  worn.  I  had 
observed  it  several  times  of  late.  Was  I  certain 
that  I  was  right  in  the  choice  I  was  tempted  to 
make?  But  if  I  did  not  marry  Mr.  Spence, 
what  was  the  prospect  before  me?  What  did 
my  father  wish  me  to  do  with  his  money? 

As  though  he  understood  my  silent  question, 
he  turned  to  me  suddenly  and  said,  — 

"  As  you  may  remember,  Virginia,  I  told  you 
—  it  must  be  more  than  two  years  ago,  now  — 
that  I  was  a  very  rich  man.  The  same  is  true 
to-day,  though,  owing  to  the  severe  depression 
from  which  all  classes  of  property  have  suffered 
during  that  period,  I  am  no  longer  as  wealthy 
as  I  was.  Indeed,  it  has  been  only  by  unflag 
ging  attention  and  care  that  I  have  been  able  to 
avoid  very  serious  losses.  But  let  that  pass. 
Confidence  is  restored,  and  the  worst  is  over. 
My  affairs  are  in  a  shape  now  where  further 
depreciation  is  well-nigh  impossible,  and  you 
will  have  all  the  money  that  you  can  possibly 
need  when  I  am  gone." 

He  paused  a  moment,  and  I  hastened  to  ex 
press  my  concern  that  he  had  been  worried. 

"  That  is  all  done  with  now,  I  hope.  I  only 
mentioned  it  in  order  that  you  should  know  what 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.          203 

you  have  to  expect,  —  and  because  I  have  been 
making  up  my  accounts  for  the  first  of  the  year. 
No  one  can  tell  what  another  year  may  bring 
forth.  I  am  not  so  strong  as  I  was,  I  think." 

He  spoke  without  emotion ;  but  there  was 
something  in  his  tone  that  prompted  me  to 
go  to  him,  and  kneeling  by  his  side  to  take 
his  hand  in  mine. 

"  Are  you  not  well,  father?  " 

"  Oh,  yes.  But  when  a  man  has  worked  hard 
all  his  days  and  gets  to  be  sixty-five  years  old,  the 
machine  does  not  run  so  smoothly  as  it  used. 
That  is  all.  Some  day  it  will  stop  all  of  a  sud 
den,  just  as  it  did  in  my  father's  case.  He  was 
worn  out  when  he  died ;  and  that  is  what  I  shall 
be.  In  this  country,  we  most  of  us  have  only  time 
to  get  together  our  millions  and  die."  He  spoke 
with  a  smile,  and  gently  stroked  my  hair.  "  But 
we  expect  our  children  to  make  a  good  use  of 
the  leisure  we  have  won  for  them.  You  begin 
where  I  leave  off,  Virginia.  I  had  hoped  to  be 
able  to  see  a  great  deal  of  you  during  the  last 
few  years,  but  just  at  the  moment  when  I  was 
about  to  lay  aside  the  harness  came  the  pe 
riod  of  depression.  It  is  very  difficult,  in  this 
country,  for  parents  to  know  their  children  inti 
mately.  Neither  party  has  time  for  the  opera- 


204          A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

tion.  You  have  your  interests,  as  well  as  I ;  and 
what  is  more,  I  scarcely  know  what  they  are.  I 
am  not  complaining ;  I  am  merely  stating  facts. 
If  my  life  is  spared  a  few  years  longer,  we  will 
try  to  change  all  that.  Before  I  die  I  should  like 
to  see  you  happily  married  to  some  one  who 
is  worthy  of  you.  Nothing  ever  gave  me  so 
much  pain  as  to  see  you  suffer  at  the  time  that 
fellow  deceived  you,  —  nothing  at  least  except 
the  thought  of  your  becoming  his  wife.  But 
that  is  past,  thank  Heaven !  and  I  think  I  am 
right  in  saying  that  you  have  forgotten  him  long 
since." 

He  talked  in  a  half  soliloquizing  fashion, 
in  short,  deliberate  sentences,  and  looked  up 
to  me  as  he  finished,  for  a  confirmation  of 
his  opinion. 

"  A  woman  never  forgets,  father.  But  I  am 
very  glad  you  saved  me  from  marrying  him." 

"  Yes,  yes,  it  would  have  been  madness,"  he 
replied  eagerly.  "  I  could  not  have  endured 
the  thought  of  that  good-for-nothing  squan 
dering  my  property.  I  should  never  have 
relented,  and  I  should  have  been  in  my  grave 
before  this.  But  let  by-gones  be  by-gones. 
To-day  you  are  older  and  wiser,  and  I  have 
confidence  that  you  will  keep  the  credit  of  our 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.          205 

name  untarnished.  It  has  taken  three  genera 
tions  of  honest  men  to  accumulate  the  fortune 
you  will  inherit,"  he  added  proudly. 

"  But  what  do  you  wish  me  to  do  with  it, 
father?" 

"  That  is  for  you  to  decide  when  I  am  gone. 
I  could  tell  you  how  to  make  money,  and  how 
to  keep  it,  perhaps ;  but  how  to  spend  it  wisely 
requires  a  different  sort  of  talent  than  I  possess. 
I  have  told  you,  from  the  first,  that  it  was  to  be 
your  life-work.  Busy  as  I  have  been,  I  have 
tried  to  place  the  means  of  understanding  the 
commercial  value  of  money  in  your  way,  so  that 
you  might  not  be  wholly  ignorant  when  the 
time  came  to  act." 

"  And  it  would  be  a  bitter  disappointment  to 
you,  then,  if  I  were  to  give  it  all  up?  " 

"  Give  it  up?  "  he  glanced  at  me  with  a  comi 
cal  expression,  as  though  I  had  said  something 
preposterous.  "  You  could  n't  give  it  up  if  you 
wanted  to.  It  will  come  to  you  by  my  will.  I 
shall  leave  it  all  in  your  hands." 

For  a  few  moments  I  did  not  reply.  Then  I 
turned  to  him  and  said:  — 

"  You  were  speaking  just  now  of  wishing  to 
see  me  happily  married,  and  you  referred  to  Mr. 
Dale." 


206          A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

"Well?" 

"  Don't  be  concerned,  father.  It  is  not  of 
him  I  wish  to  speak,  except  to  say  that  though 
I  have  been  very  grateful  he  is  not  my  husband, 
I  do  not  believe  I  shall  ever  care  for  anybody 
else  in  the  same  way.  But  I  have  had,  this 
very  day,  an  offer  of  marriage  from  a  man  who 
is  in  every  sense  worthy  of  me.  Indeed,  I  am 
not  worthy  of  him." 

"  Of  whom  are  you  speaking?" 

"  Of  Mr.  Spence,  father." 

"  Spence?     I  do  not  recall  the  name." 

"  You  have  met  him  only  once,  I  think.  He 
came  to  the  house  one  afternoon,  about  a  year  ago, 
with  that  Mr.  Barr  who  dines  here  sometimes." 

"Oh!" 

I  cannot  give  a  precise  idea  of  that  ejacula 
tion.  It  was  a  strange  mixture  of  pleasantry 
and  consternation. 

"He  is  by  profession  a  poet,  —  and  a  phi 
losopher.  His  writings  are  highly  thought  of 
among  literary  people,  and  he  is  an  intimate 
friend  of  Aunt  Agnes,"  I  said  quietly. 

"  What  answer  did  you  give  him?  "  asked  my 
father  presently,  with  a  weary  air.  He  leaned 
his  head  on  his  hand,  and  listened  intently  and 
anxiously. 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  2O/ 

"  I  told  him  I  would  think  the  matter  over," 
I  replied. 

"  He  is  not  the  husband  I  would  have  chosen 
for  you,  Virginia,"  he  said,  after  a  silence.  "  But 
you  must  suit  yourself.  Now  that  you  recall 
him  to  me,  I  know  who  this  Mr.  Spence  is.  I 
have  seen  his  name  in  the  newspapers,  and  a 
few  weeks  ago  I  remember  he  delivered  a  lec 
ture  before  the  Thursday  Evening  Club.  It 
was  a  visionary,  unpractical  address,  I  thought. 
Several  members  spoke  to  me  of  it  as  such. 
But  there  were  one  or  two  enthusiasts  —  as 
there  are  everywhere  —  who  extolled  it  as  a 
marvel  of  originality  and  cleverness.  Are  you 
sure  of  his  habits?" 

"  His  habits  ought  to  be  good,  for  he  is  the 
advocate  of  the  theory  of  Moderation.  It  is  to 
that  he  devotes  the  greater  part  of  his  time. 
Yes,  father,  I  am  sure  of  them." 

"  I  remember  now,  —  Moderation.  That  was 
what  he  talked  about.  He  is  one  of  your  so- 
called  reformers.  He  gets  hold  of  an  idea  and 
tries  to  fit  the  world  to  it.  And  you  say  you 
wish  to  marry  him,  Virginia?" 

"  I  have  not  said  so.     I  don't  know." 

"  If  you  take  my  advice,  you  will  not.  I 
know  nothing  further  of  him  than  you  have 


208  A   ROMANTIC  YOUNG  LADY. 

told  me.  The  better  philosopher  a  man  is,  the 
worse  husband  he  is  likely  to  make.  Has  he 
anything  to  live  upon?" 

"  Yes ;  enough  to  support  us  comfortably,  I 
believe.  In  fact,  he  does  not  wish  me  to  take 
any  money  from  you." 

"  That  shows  him  a  more  independent  minded 
fellow  than  I  supposed.  Humph  !  One  liter 
ary  woman  in  the  family  ought  to  be  enough. 
Still,  the  great  thing  is  that  you  should  be  suited. 
We  are  not  all  cut  after  the  same  pattern,  and  if 
you  have  a  fancy  for  a  husband  of  that  type,  I 
shall  not  stand  in  the  way.  I  interfered  once, 
but  that  was  a  very  different  matter.  Satisfy 
me  that  there  is  nothing  objectionable  against 
this  Mr.  Spence,  and  if  you  wish  to  marry  him 
I  shall  not  offer  serious  opposition.  It  is-  all 
nonsense  about  your  not  being  able  to  care  for 
anybody.  If  you  like  a  man  well  enough  to 
become  his  wife,  the  rest  will  follow.  I  should 
be  glad  to  see  you  married." 

"  I  like  Mr.  Spence  very  much ;  but  it  is  his 
theory  of  Moderation  that  interests  me  even 
more  than  himself,"  I  answered,  uncertain  how  to 
lead  up  to  the  condition  of  our  marriage,  which 
I  knew  now  would  irritate  my  father  greatly. 
He  had  received  the  news  of  Mr.  Spence's  offer 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.          209 

much  more  favorably  than  I  expected.  It  was 
evident  he  wished  me  to  marry  some  one. 

"As  you  have  said,  father,  I  have  interests  of 
my  own  of  which  you  do  not  know.  I  have 
given  five  hours  almost  every  day  during  the 
past  year  to  the  study  of  the  principles  of  this 
philosophy.  I  have  found  my  field  of  useful 
ness  there,  it  seems  to  me.  By  continuing  this 
work  and  becoming  the  wife  of  Mr.  Spencc,  I 
feel  that  I  shall  be  doing  more  good  in  the  world 
than  I  could  in  any  other  way.  If  you  ask  me 
if  I  love  Mr.  Spence,  candor  compels  me  to  say 
that  I  do  not.  If  you  ask  if  I  am  particularly 
happy  at  the  prospect  of  marrying  him,  I  must 
say  that  I  am  not.  But  it  seems  to  me  the  best 
chance  that  is  likely  to  offer.  I  respect  him 
thoroughly,  and,  as  you  say,  the  rest  may  fol 
low.  A  life  devoted  to  a  noble  theory  is  better 
suited  to  my  tastes  and  capacities  than  the  con 
trol  of  a  large  fortune." 

"You  are  a  little  morbid,  Virginia,"  he  inter 
rupted.  "  My  original  impression  is  confirmed. 
This  is  no  match  for  you.  I  warn  you  against 
the  danger  of  becoming  addicted  to  fads  and 
isms.  Your  Aunt  Agnes  has  made  herself  ridic 
ulous  and  alienated  all  her  friends  by  just  such 
a  course.  I  have  not  a  word  to  say  against 
14 


210          A  ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

a  thorough  education,  as  you  must  well  know ; 
but  when  a  woman  begins  to  talk  about  devot 
ing  her  life  to  the  principles  of  philosophy, 
'  Look  out ! '  say  I.  It  is  not  natural.  She  needs 
a  new  bonnet,  and  a  few  balls  and  parties.  But 
even  supposing  you  marry  this  Socrates  and  be 
come  as  learned  as  he,  how  is  that  inconsistent 
with  taking  care  of  your  fortune?" 

"  I  thought  I  told  you,  father,"  I  said. 

"Told  me  what?" 

"That  Mr.  Spence  objected  to  my  fortune." 

"  Objected,  did  he?  How  is  he  to  help  him 
self?  Besides,  the  money  is  mine  until  I  am 
dead.  If  he  is  so  infernally  proud,  he  need  n't 
touch  any  of  it  until  then.  I  fancy  he  might  get 
tired  of  waiting." 

"You  don't  understand,  father.  Mr.  Spence 
wants  me  to  agree  never  to  touch  any  of  it.  He 
does  n't  think  it  right  for  people  to  keep  more 
than  a  certain  amount,  just  enough  to  provide  for 
their  actual  needs.  It  is  one  of  the  principles 
he  believes  in.  It  is  a  part  of  his  system." 

"Principles!     System!      Is  the  girl  crazy?" 

"  It  is  opposed  to  all  your  ideas,  I  know,"  I 
exclaimed  earnestly,  determined  now  that  I  had 
entered  on  the  matter  to  dispute  it  with  vigor. 
"But  are  you  sure  that  you  are  in  the  right? 


A   ROMANTIC    YOUNG  LADY.          211 

What  is  the  use  of  so  much  money  to  a  woman? 
You  want  me  to  make  the  most  of  the  fortune 
it  has  taken  you  all  your  life  to  get  together. 
Is  it  not  possible  that  in  renouncing  it  I  should 
be  doing  that?  New  ideas  have  to  encounter 
opposition,  but  they  are  not  all  to  be  presumed 
unsound  on  that  account.  There  may  be  more 
sense  in  those  of  Mr.  Spence  than  you  sup 
pose.  By  setting  this  example  of  moderation,  I 
may  be  able  to  give  an  impetus  to  truth  that 
will  be  of  real  service  to  mankind.  Besides, 
women  are  different  from  men,  father.  They 
find  more  comfort  and  happiness  in  devotion  to 
something  like  this  than  in  the  practical  details 
of  life.  I  have  had  some  experience.  I  have 
seen  society,  and  know  the  weariness  of  a  merely 
social  existence.  As  I  have  already  told  you, 
I  believe  I  should  be  more  content  with  Mr. 
Spence  than  with  any  one  else.  I  need  sym 
pathy  and  an  interest.  I  am  morbid,  perhaps ; 
but  there  is  every  chance  of  my  becoming 
more  so  unless  you  let  me  have  my  way  in 
this  matter.  Leave  your  money  to  some  deserv 
ing  charity  or  college,  father,  and  let  me  marry 
Mr.  Spence." 

"  Deserving  charity  or  college  !      That  from 
the  lips  of  my  own  daughter !     I   have  wanted 


212  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

to  interrupt  you  a  dozen  times  to  tell  you  how 
foolish  and  senseless  is  the  rubbish  you  were 
talking.  And  now  that  I  have  heard  you  to  the 
end,  I  am  speechless.  You  are  crazy !  I  repeat  it, 
crazy  !  You  are  fit  only  for  a  convent  or  a  luna 
tic  asylum.  I  had  better  find  another  heir." 

He  covered  his  face  with  his  hands,  and  I 
could  see  his  whole  form  tremble. 

"  Father,"  I  cried,  "  if  I  were  only  sure  that 
you  are  not  mistaken !  " 

We  sat  without  another  word  being  spoken 
for  many  minutes.  At  last  he  lay  back  in  his 
chair  with  the  weary  air  intensified  which  I  had 
noticed  when  I  told  him  of  Mr.  Spence's  offer, 
and  said  in  a  tone  in  harmony  with  that,  — 

"You  have  been  brought  up,  Virginia,  like 
all  American  girls,  to  have  your  own  way.  I 
have  given  you  every  indulgence  and  liberty. 
Your  smallest  wish  has  been  regarded.  If  I 
could  wipe  out  the  past  and  begin  anew,  I  feel 
that  I  should  act  very  differently.  I  should 
wield  a  rod  of  iron,  and  teach  my  own  flesh  and 
blood  to  obey  by  saying,  '  Do  this  ! '  and  '  You 
shall  not  do  that ! '  The  result  could  be  no  worse 
than  it  has  been  under  the  other  system.  Is  the 
judgment  of  the  new  generation  so  infallible,"  he 
continued,  "  that  it  can  afford  to  dispense  with 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.          213 

obedience  and  filial  respect  altogether?  You 
have  had  one  lesson  already,  Virginia,  but  you 
have  failed  to  profit  by  it.  When  that  fortune- 
hunting,  idle  dandy  was  whispering  his  pretty 
speeches  in  your  ear,  was  it  your  own  good 
sense  that  saved  you  from  a  miserable  alliance? 
No ;  if  I  had  not  for  once  in  my  life  stepped  in 
and  said,  '  You  do  this  thing  at  your  own  peril,' 
and  proved  to  you  the  paltry  soul  of  the  fellow, 
what  would  you  be  to-day?  Broken-hearted 
and  old  before  your  time.  But  that  was  when 
you  were  almost  a  child,  and  without  experience. 
I  was  made  very  unhappy,  but  I  said  to  myself, 
'  She  will  grow  wiser  as  she  grows  older.'  And 
I  thought  you  had.  In  the  multitude  of  my 
business  cares  I  have  merely  had  time  to  observe 
you  in  a  general  way.  But  I  supposed  the  seri 
ous  and  absorbed  air  which  your  face  has  worn 
came  from  the  interest  of  your  studies,  and  that 
those  studies  were  fitting  you  for  the  work  I 
had  planned  for  you.  I  wish  now  that  you  had 
never  touched  a  book  in  your  life.  Better  in 
my  opinion  to  be  the  careless  butterfly  of  so 
ciety  than  the  fanatic.  I  never  expected  to  live 
to  see  my  only  child  so  blind  to  common-sense 
as  to  wish  to  follow  such  a  monstrous  theory 
as  you  have  described.  Money !  Why,  it  is 


214  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

the  power  and  possibility  of  the  world.  But 
what  good  are  words?  If  you  cannot  see  the 
folly  and  unsoundness  of  it  at  a  glance,  it  is 
useless  for  me  to  talk.  Go  your  own  ways. 
Marry  whom  you  like.  Not  a  dollar  of  my 
money  —  " 

He  stopped  as  he  realized  the  futility  of  his 
threat,  and  covered  his  face  again  with  his 
hands. 

Looking  back  over  many  years,  it  seems  to 
me  at  times  incredible  that  I  should  have  held 
out  so  long  against  such  entreaty  and  distress ; 
but  it  is  to  be  said  on  the  other  hand  that  my 
whole  future  happiness  was  involved  in  the 
decision  of  the  question.  My  natural  obstinacy 
had  deepened  as  I  listened  to  his  words,  and  had 
tended  to  counteract  the  affection  and  pity  I  felt 
for  him. 

"If  I  were  only  sure  that  you  are  right!"  I 
repeated.  "What  you  say  about  my  education 
is  perfectly  true.  I  have  been  brought  up  to  have 
my  own  way,  but  also,  father,  to  have  no  counsel 
but  my  own.  If  so  much  freedom  has  been  given 
me,  was  it  not  with  the  idea  of  teaching  me  to 
make  up  my  own  mind  about  things?  And  if  I 
have  made  up  my  mind,  and  I  feel  my  conscience 
urge  me  to  take  a  step  which  involves  my  hap- 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.          215 

piness  for  the  rest  of  my  life,  why  is  it  unfilial  of 
me  to  follow  my  own  judgment?  I  have  been 
alone,  and  thrown  upon  my  own  responsibility, 
ever  since  I  was  a  child.  I  am  not  complaining. 
I  have  had  no  mother;  you  have  been  busy 
down-town,  and  my  aunts  never  agree  in  their 
advice.  I  have  tried  to  think  for  myself.  I  have 
chosen  an  interest  in  life  to  which  I  am  ready 
to  devote  my  best  energies,  and  in  order  to  do 
so  more  completely  should,  if  you  did  not  for 
bid,  marry  a  man  who  is  in  every  way  my 
superior,  and  whom  I  thoroughly  respect.  I 
am  willing  to  give  this  all  up  to  please  you. 
But  I  do  not  mean,  father,  that  I  think  you 
are  in  the  right.  I  am  no  longer  the  child 
I  was  when  I  wished  to  disobey  you  before. 
Then  I  refused  to  yield,  until  you  convinced 
me  that  I  was  wrong.  To-day  I  am  prepared 
to  sacrifice  my  own  wishes  for  your  sake,  but  I 
remain  unconvinced.  I  will  write  to  Mr.  Spence 
to-night,  and  tell  him  that  I  cannot  be  his  wife. 
I  will  resign  my  position  as  secretary  of  his  So 
ciety,  and  give  up  what  you  call  fads  and  isms. 
Only  I  shall  expect  for  the  future,  father,  that 
you  will  tell  me  precisely  what  you  wish  me  to 
do,  and  let  me  do  it.  You  must  not  deprive 
me  of  my  liberty  of  choice,  and  then  treat  me 


216  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY, 

just  as  if  I  were  free.  Do  with  me  what  you 
will.  Marry  me  to  whom  you  please.  I  will 
obey,  —  implicitly,  unhesitatingly.  Only  take 
away  from  me  the  responsibility  once  and  for 
all.  I  am  weary  of  it." 

I  had  spoken  with  anger  and  excitement. 
My  nerves  were  all  unstrung  by  the  events  of 
the  past  two  days ;  and  as  I  finished,  my  tears 
burst  forth.  I  wept  with  passionate  sobs.  My 
father  made  no  effort  to  comfort  me.  He  sat 
with  his  chin  resting  on  his  breast,  weary  and 
sad. 

"  I  did  not  mean  to  be  disrespectful,"  I  mur 
mured  at  last.  "  I  am  willing  to  do  all  that 
you  desire." 

"  You  have  said  that  you  do  not  love  this 
man,  Virginia." 

"  I  love  him  as  much  as  I  shall  ever  love  any 
one  else,"  I  answered. 

"I  accept  your  sacrifice,  my  child.  Some  day 
you  will  thank  me.  But  write  to-night.  I  shall 
sleep  better  if  I  feel  that  it  is  done.  Promise 
me,"  he  added,  looking  at  me  with  a  strange 
eagerness  that  was  pathetic,  and  made  the  tears 
return  to  my  eyes,  but  this  time  out  of  tender 
ness,  —  "  promise  me  that  whatever  happens,  you 
will  accept  the  trust  I  am  going  to  leave  you." 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.          217 

I  ran  to  his  side,  and  kneeling,  raised  my  eyes 
to  his, — "Forgive  me,  father!  I  promise  faith 
fully." 

Only  a  few  words  more  need  to  be  said  con 
cerning  this  phase  of  my  life.  That  night  I  wrote 
to  Mr.  Spence.  Gratitude  and  friendship  will  not 
make  up  for  the  absence  of  love,  but  whatever 
there  can  be  of  consolation  in  these  substitutes  I 
sent  to  him.  Why  was  it  that  as  I  penned  the 
lines  which  were  to  disappoint  his  hopes,  I  was 
vaguely  conscious  that  my  interest  in  his  theo 
ries  was  already  less?  So  difficult  is  it  in  life 
to  determine  precisely  how  far  our  beliefs  are 
decided  by  our  associations  !  But  it  is  not  to  be 
supposed  that  because  I  admit  this  after  the  lapse 
of  years,  the  consciousness  of  which  I  speak  was 
at  that  time  more  than  a  secret  one,  which  I 
shrank  from  confessing  even  to  myself.  Gen 
uine  were  the  tears  I  shed  in  private  for  many 
days.  My  life  seemed  to  me  a  blank,  and  I  had 
lost  the  motive  of  action.  For  allowing  my 
father  to  be  right,  and  the  principles  advocated 
by  Mr.  Spence  to  be  monstrous  and  absurd,  I 
had  been  too  intimately  connected  with  the  sys 
tem  not  to  feel  a  great  void  in  my  existence  at 
severing  my  relations  with  it.  What  was  to  take 
its  place? 


2l8          A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

I  had  to  undergo,  moreover,  one  or  two  disa 
greeable  interviews  with  my  Aunt  Agnes  before 
the  matter  was  finally  settled.  In  the  intensity 
of  his  disappointment,  Mr.  Spence  applied  to  her 
and  asked  her  to  endeavor  to  alter  my  resolution. 
She  sent  for  me,  and  though  she  did  not  disguise 
her  surprise  that  her  favorite  should  wish  to 
marry  at  all,  she  was  unequivocal  in  the  expres 
sion  of  her  opinion  that  I  should  never  get  such 
another  chance.  As  I  remained  obdurate,  she 
accused  me  of  a  deliberate  attempt  to  trifle  with 
his  affections.  I  had  already  ruined  the  life  of 
one  man  of  genius,  she  said,  who  though  a  wan 
derer  from  the  right  path  might  reasonably  have 
become  a  noble  worker  but  for  my  influence ;  and 
now  I  was  about  to  blight  the  happiness  of  one 
whose  equal  was  to  be  found  only  a  few  times  in  a 
century.  She  even  went  to  my  father,  and  rep 
resented  to  him  the  folly  I  would  commit  in  re 
fusing  such  an  offer.  I  was  not  present  at  the 
interview ;  but  Aunt  Agnes,  as  she  came  out  of 
the  library  into  the  room  where  I  was  sitting, 
looked  angry  and  severe. 

"  Money,  money,  money !  That  is  all  your 
father  thinks  of  from  morning  until  night.  It 
is  wearing  on  him  too.  It  is  killing  him  by 
inches." 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.          219 

"  You  are  right,  Aunt  Agnes;  he  needs  rest; 
he  looks  tired  out,"  I  said,  ignoring  the  first  part 
of  her  speech. 

"  It  is  his  own  fault.  And  now  he  wants  to 
educate  you  in  the  same  school.  Lucretia 
Kingsley  is  correct,  —  oil  and  water  are  more 
fit  to  be  mated  than  you  and  Mr.  Spence.  You 
have  broken  her  heart,  too,  by  your  wanton 
conduct,  Virginia.  Her  sympathy  for  Mr. 
Spence  is  very  affecting." 

"  Pooh !  "  I  answered,  angered  by  her  indif 
ference  regarding  my  father;  "she  is  crazy  to 
marry  him  herself.  That  is  all  the  matter  with 
her." 

This  was  the  last  effort  Aunt  Agnes  made  to 
alter  my  resolution,  but  she  saw  fit  to  tell  Aunt 
Helen  of  my  escapade  at  Mr.  Barr's  studio,  who 
came  to  me  in  horror.  Her  predictions  were 
about  to  be  realized,  she  said.  Notwithstanding 
all  her  warnings,  my  name  was  associated  with 
a  vulgar  adventurer.  "A  handsome  wretch  as 
I  remember  him,"  she  added,  "but  —  even  on 
your  aunt's  admission,  who  is  none  too  nice  in 
her  estimate  of  people  —  unprincipled,  and  with 
low  agrarian  tastes." 

A  fortnight  after  my  dismissal  of  Mr.  Spence, 
a  misfortune  befell  me  that  banished  all  thoughts 


220          A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

save  those  of  grief.  My  father  was  seized  with 
a  sudden  illness,  and  died  within  a  few  hours. 
The  doctors  said  the  cause  of  his  death  was 
disease  of  the  heart,  and  that  he  had  been 
aware  of  the  existence  of  the  disorder  for  some 
time.  It  was  many  days  before  I  thought  again 
of  what  I  was  told  after  the  funeral,  —  that  I 
was  left  by  my  father's  will  sole  heiress  to  four 
million  dollars. 


BOOK  III. 
(UN)COMMON    SENSE. 


I. 


A  yTY  first  impulse  was  to  become  a  woman  of 
-*-*-*•  business,  and  assume  the  entire  control 
of  my  inheritance.  Excepting  a  few  charitable 
bequests  and  some  trifling  legacies,  everything 
was  left  to  me.  I  was  even  made  executrix; 
but  my  father  had  indicated  in  a  separate  paper 
that  in  regard  to  matters  out  of  my  knowledge 
I  could  safely  consult  his  own  legal  adviser, 
Horatio  Chelm. 

Mr.  Chelm  was  the  conventional  idea  of  a 
successful  lawyer,  —  withered,  non-committal, 
and  a  little  fusty ;  but  technicalities  had  failed  to 
harden  his  heart  or  obscure  his  good  sense.  He 
had  a  sunny  smile,  which  refreshed  my  sad  spirit 
when  I  called  upon  him  shortly  after  the  funeral 
to  inform  him  of  my  purpose,  and  made  me  feel 
that  I  could  confide  in  him. 

"  What,  my  dear  young  lady !  take  entire 
charge  of  four  million  dollars?  I  admire  your 
business  ambition,  but  I  must  tell  you  that  such 
a  task  is  impossible,  if  you  wish  to  have  leisure 


224          A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

for  anything  else.  No,  no !  your  father  could 
not  have  meant  that  I  knew  him  well,  and  he 
was  the  last  man  to  have  wished  to  make  you  a 
slave  to  your  good  fortune.  With  an  income 
of  nearly  two  hundred  thousand  dollars  you  can 
afford  to  leave  to  some  one  else  the  anxiety  and 
drudgery  attendant  on  the  care  of  your  property. 
Your  father  wished  you  to  enjoy  his  money  and 
use  it  well.  He  has  told  me  so  himself.  He  was 
very  fond  and  very  proud  of  you,  Miss  Harlan." 

"  But  he  was  very  anxious  to  have  me  under 
stand  business  matters,  Mr.  Chelm,"  I  replied. 

"  And  he  was  quite  right,  too.  Don't  think  for 
a  moment  I  am  dissuading  you  from  undertaking 
a  general  supervision  of  your  property  and  trying 
to  know  all  about  it.  It  is  your  duty  under  the 
circumstances,  I  fully  agree.  But  it  would  never 
do  to  have  you  spending  the  best  years  of  your 
life  cooped  up  in  an  office  cutting  off  coupons 
and  worrying  over  investments.  Not,  to  be 
sure,  that  there  is  much  to  be  done  at  present,  for 
I  never  saw  a  cleaner  list  of  securities  than  yours ; 
but  you  have  no  idea  of  the  amount  of  watch 
fulness  required  to  keep  an  estate  like  this  un 
impaired.  A  family  of  children  are  nothing 
to  it,  ha !  ha !  No,  Miss  Harlan,  I  tell  you  what 
we  will  do ;  you  shall  have  a  little  office  adjoin- 


A  ROMANTIC    YOUNG  LADY.  22$ 

ing  mine,  where  you  can  spend  one  day  in  every 
week  transacting  what  is  necessary  in  regard  to 
your  property.  Everything  shall  be  in  your 
name,  and  nothing  done  without  your  full  under 
standing  and  consent.  I  will  be  at  hand  to  be 
plied  with  questions,  and  you  shall  become  as 
wise  in  finance  as  Necker  himself.  But  I  pray 
you  to  devote  the  six  remaining  days  to  other 
things,  and  leave  to  us  dry,  matter-of-fact  law 
yers  the  details  of  your  business.  I  have  a  great 
many  millions  under  my  control,  and  the  per 
centage  which  I  should  derive  from  the  care  of 
yours  is  a  matter  of  indifference  to  me ;  but  I 
am  very  much  concerned  that  you  should  not 
make  the  fatal  mistake  of  becoming  a  mere  fem 
inine  trustee." 

I  yielded  to  persuasion ;  and  in  accordance 
with  his  promise  a  little  room  adjoining  his  own 
private  office  was  allotted  to  me,  and  every  Mon 
day  morning  I  drove  down-town  and  spent  the 
day-  in  poring  over  the  ledgers  and  deeds  and 
reports,  and  in  taking  a  general  scrutiny  of  my 
affairs.  At  first  it  was  all  very  confusing,  but 
by  degrees  order  was  reduced  out  of  chaos  to 
my  understanding,  and  I  learned  to  take  a  keen 
interest  in  the  points  submitted  to  me  for  my 
decision.  At  first  I  felt  some  humiliation  in  per- 
'5 


226          A   ROMANTIC  YOUNG  LADY. 

ceiving  that  my  opinion  was  consulted  merely 
from  form  and  courtesy,  —  or,  more  roughly,  be 
cause  the  law  required  it.  I  was  forced  to  laugh 
and  shake  my  head  and  acknowledge  that  I  was 
not  capable  of  judging.  I  had  hoped  that  I 
knew  enough  to  be  of  service  sometimes,  and 
the  consciousness  of  my  ignorance  spurred  me 
to  determined  exertions  to  overcome  the  defi 
ciency.  Contrary  to  our  compact,  I  read  and 
studied  at  home  books  relating  to  financial  and 
economical  matters ;  I  concealed  railway  reports 
in  my  muff,  and  tried  various  artifices  to  acquire 
knowledge  unbeknown  to  Mr.  Chelm.  But  it 
was  chiefly  to  his  kindness  and  unwearying  at 
tention  that  I  owed  the  proficiency  I  gradually 
acquired ;  and  I  think  it  was  as  genuine  a  plea 
sure  to  him  as  to  me,  when  at  last  I  was  able, 
with  a  moderate  degree  of  confidence,  to  choose 
for  myself  between  two  lines  of  conduct.  I 
often  asked  myself  what  I  should  have  done 
had  I  attempted  to  act  alone  from  the  start. 

But  it  was  not  long  before  another  interest 
incident  to  and  growing  out  of  this  began  to  oc 
cupy  my  thoughts  and  time.  The  bulk  of  my 
daily  mail  was  increased  by  subscription  lists 
and  circulars  soliciting  my  assistance  to  every 
kind  of  charity  and  enterprise.  People  whom  I 


A    ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  22/ 

had  never  seen,  came  to  the  house  to  ask  aid  for 
struggling  talent.  I  was  importuned  with  beg 
ging  letters  from  victims  to  all  sorts  of  distress. 
Zealous  philanthropists  wrote  that  they  had 
taken  the  liberty  of  putting  down  my  name  as  a 
member  of  their  societies,  and  that  the  annual 
assessment  was  now  due  and  payable.  Here 
again  I  had  recourse  to  the  counsel  of  Mr. 
Chelm,  whose  experience,  as  I  have  hinted,  radi 
ated  beyond  the  limits  of  his  lucrative  practice, 
and  who  was  not  only  liberal  toward  the  poor, 
but  familiar  with  their  needs.  From  him  I  ob 
tained  a  variety  of  hints  and  suggestions  that 
enabled  me  to  give  my  money  and  time  intelli 
gently,  and  also  to  refuse  them  without  remorse. 
I  was  very  glad  of  this  new  duty,  which  easily 
became  a  great  pleasure  despite  my  occasional 
disgust  at  the  impertinence  of  some  applicants 
when  it  was  discovered  that  I  was  ready  to  sub 
scribe  freely.  I  was  not  however  satisfied  with 
the  easy  work  of  giving,  but  soon  passed  from 
the  passive  act  of  signing  cheques  to  active  work 
among  the  needy.  I  studied  the  theories  of 
tenement  houses  and  hygiene,  and  became  a  lead 
ing  spirit  in  several  charitable  organizations. 

I  renewed  also  my  old  habit  of  reading,  and 
no  longer  confined  myself  to  the   philosophic 


228          A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

and  dry  subjects  pursued  under  Mr.  Fleisch. 
But  I  was  conscious  that  the  zest  which  I  felt 
in  renewing  a  wider  range  of  study  was  due 
to  the  fact  of  my  having  acquired  from  his  in 
struction  a  degree  of  industry  and  a  power  to 
appreciate  that  I  had  not  previously  possessed. 
At  the  suggestion  of  Mr.  Chelm,  whom  I  allured 
to  chat  with  me  regarding  outside  subjects  when 
my  business  was  finished,  I  read  with  regularity 
the  leading  newspapers  and  magazines.  A  fa 
miliarity  with  the  former  he  declared  to  be  indis 
pensable  to  a  knowledge  of  current  affairs,  and 
also  that  much  of  the  freshest  and  most  valuable 
thought  of  the  day  was  first  made  public  through 
the  medium  of  periodicals.  This  practice  re 
ceived  likewise  the  approval  of  Aunt  Helen,  who 
assured  me  that  she  always  felt  lost  for  the  day  if 
she  had  not  looked  at  the  Deaths  and  Marriages. 
One  of  my  first  steps  had  been  to  ask  Aunt 
Helen  to  come  and  live  with  me ;  to  which  she 
finally  consented,  though  the  consequent  neces 
sity  of  disestablishing  her  cosey  little  parlor, 
upon  the  embellishment  of  which  she  had  spent 
the  overflow  of  her  income  for  years,  cost  her 
many  a  pang.  But  she  was  a  far-seeing  woman, 
and  had  I  dare  say,  while  accepting  my  offer,  a 
delightful  vision  of  helping  me  to  live  up  to  the 


A    ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.          229 

duties  of  my  position.  I  can  only  say  that  she 
soon  began  to  impress  the  importance  of  this 
upon  me  by  hints  more  or  less  palpable ;  and  it 
was  not  long  before  she  was  to  all  intents  and 
purposes  the  real  house-keeper.  It  was  still,  to 
be  sure,  I  that  ordered  the  dinners  and  engaged 
the  servants,  but  even  in  these  minor  details  I 
was  alive  to  her  suggestions ;  while  in  the  mat 
ter  of  the  general  direction  of  what  went  on,  her 
wishes  were  supreme.  At  first  I  was  too  sad  to 
be  other  than  indifferent;  and  later  it  was  a  relief 
to  me  to  have  taken  off  my  shoulders  the  bother 
of  many  things  which  I  felt  instinctively  ought  to 
be  done.  I  could  trust  Aunt  Helen's  taste;  and 
so  she  had  my  tacit  permission  to  follow  out  her 
own  inclinations  in  the  way  of  change  and  im 
provements.  Under  her  supervision  the  house 
was  almost  entirely  refurnished  and  adorned 
with  the  most  exquisite  specimens  of  upholstery 
and  bric-a-brac  obtainable.  So  too,  as  time 
went  on,  she  increased  the  number  and  raised 
the  standard  of  the  domestics,  and  persuaded 
me  to  buy  a  variety  of  horses  and  equipages. 
It  was  she  who  kept  the  grooms  up  to  the 
mark  regarding  the  proper  degree  of  polish 
for  the  harnesses,  and  she  spent  many  days 
in  the  selection  of  an  artistic  design  for  the 


230          A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

crest  to  be  emblazoned  upon  them.  So  far  as 
was  possible  she  represented  that  all  these  things 
were  done  at  my  desire  and  out  of  her  sheer  good 
nature.  When  I  drove  with  her  from  shop  to 
shop,  as  I  often  did  to  save  myself  from  depress 
ing  thoughts,  she  invariably  made  me  pass  a  for 
mal  approval  upon  whatever  charmed  her  eye. 
If  this  innocent  self-deceit  gave  her  pleasure,  it 
did  not  seem  to  me  worth  while  to  protest. 

And  so  by  the  time  I  left  off  my  mourning, 
there  was  little  left  to  be  done  to  make  my  es 
tablishment  one  of  the  most  elegant  in  the  city. 
Aunt  Helen  now  turned  her  attention  to  my 
clothes.  The  costumes  which  I  suffered  her  to 
select  were  marvels  of  Parisian  art  and  New 
York  adaptiveness.  She  sought  too,  by  frequent 
allusions  to  my  increased  personal  beauty,  to 
arouse  my  vanity  and  induce  me  to  throw  off 
the  pall  of  soberness  that  had  settled  upon  my 
spirit.  When  this  failed,  she  had  recourse  to  an 
opposite  policy,  and  repeated  to  me  the  remarks 
she  overheard  in  coming  out  of  church  and  else 
where  concerning  me.  Many  of  my  acquain 
tances,  she  said,  were  of  the  opinion  that  I 
was  eccentric  and  partial  to  "advanced"  ideas. 
Another  story  current  was  that  I  had  been  com 
pelled  by  my  father  on  his  death-bed,  on  pain 


A    ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.          231 

of  disinheritance,  to  dismiss  a  young  artist 
to  whom  I  was  passionately  attached.  There 
was  the  same  grain  of  truth  to  a  bushel  of 
error  in  the  remaining  conjectures;  but  Aunt 
Helen  assured  me  that  every  one  agreed  I 
was  peculiar,  and  deemed  it  unfortunate  that 
a  young  lady  possessed  of  such  signal  advan 
tages  should  be  different  from  all  the  rest  of 
the  world.  Even  I,  unobservant  as  I  was  at 
this  time,  was  made  aware  by  the  curious 
glances  directed  at  me  as  I  descended  from 
my  carriage,  that  to  a  certain  extent  an  heiress 
belongs  to  the  public. 

Continual  dropping,  however,  will  wear  away 
the  hardest  stone,  and  Aunt  Helen  was  not  one 
to  weary  in  what  she  considered  well-doing. 
When  nearly  three  years  had  elapsed  after  my 
father's  death,  I  yielded  to  her  urgency  and  con 
sented  to  inaugurate  my  return  to  society  by 
giving  a  large  ball.  The  idea  came  to  me  one 
night  when  I  was  feeling  depressed  and  discour 
aged  over  my  failure  to  obtain  more  than  a  pas 
sive  sort  of  happiness  in  my  present  occupations. 
There  were  so  many  philanthropists,  I  thought. 
I  had  even  begun  to  feel  that  the  poor  were 
extremely  well  provided  for,  and  that  in  some 
respects  they  were  really  rather  better  off  than 


232  A  ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

I  was.  For  despite  my  studies  and  my  hours 
with  Mr.  Chelm,  and  the  society  meetings  which 
I  attended,  I  was  conscious  at  heart  of  being 
lonely.  My  ideas  too  had  received  certain  im 
pressions  regarding  the  people  who  composed 
society  that  were  quite  foreign  to  those  which 
had  given  me  an  aversion  to  it.  Since  my 
accession  to  an  enormous  fortune  my  atten 
tion  had  naturally  been  directed  to  the  conduct 
of  people  situated  similarly  to  myself.  At  first 
I  was  shocked  and  made  morbid  by  the  whirl  of 
selfish  pleasure  and  dissipation  that  seemed  to 
characterize  the  lives  of  this  class.  But  when 
I  came  to  look  a  little  deeper,  I  was  surprised  to 
find  how  many  people  among  the  rich  whom  I 
had  judged  to  be  simply  frivolous  and  indifferent 
were  in  reality  earnest  workers  in  the  various 
fields  of  philanthropy,  science,  or  art,  for  the 
most  part  carrying  on  their  investigations  unob 
served.  Among  them  were  a  number  of  my  old 
acquaintances  with  whom  at  the  charitable  and 
other  gatherings  where  we  met  I  had  resumed 
the  associations  of  four  years  ago ;  and  I  was 
struck  by  the  serious  spirit  that  now  seemed  to 
determine  their  actions.  It  was  clear  to  me  that 
earnest-minded  people  existed  among  the  very 
wealthy  no  less  than  among  those  less  fortunately 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.          233 

circumstanced ;  and  as  this  grew  more  apparent, 
I  began  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  what  my  father 
had  meant  in  speaking  of  wealth  as  the  power 
and  possibility  of  the  world.  Was  it  not  essen 
tial  to  leisure ;  and  leisure  to  refinement  and  cul 
ture?  And  where  necessity  ceased  to  control 
action,  ought  there  not  to  be  a  greater  chance 
for  excellence  and  progress? 

These  growing  impressions  served  to  temper 
the  almost  morbid  tendency  of  my  thoughts  to 
the  extent  that  I  have  indicated.  We  gave  a 
grand  ball,  and  under  the  stimulus  of  the  cordial 
welcome  given  me  I  became  the  gayest  of  the 
gay,  and  surprised  not  only  my  old  acquain 
tances  but  myself  by  the  vivacity  and  desire  to 
please  of  which  I  proved  capable.  Without 
undue  confidence,  I  can  say  that  I  achieved  a 
triumph,  and  put  to  rout  the  various  uncompli 
mentary  conjectures  that  the  world  had  hazarded 
in  regard  to  me.  Society  opened  its  arms  to  me 
as  a  returning  prodigal,  and  my  revulsion  of  feel 
ing  was  all  the  more  spontaneous  from  the  fact, 
that,  if  some  of  my  former  acquaintances  were  as 
frivolous  as  ever,  they  had  learned  to  conceal  their 
emptiness  by  an  adaptability  which  made  them 
agreeable  companions.  There  was  a  keen  sat 
isfaction,  too,  in  the  consciousness  which  became 


234          A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

mine,  as  I  went  from  house  to  house  during  the 
following  weeks,  that  I  excelled  the  most  of 
them  in  the  power  to  make  myself  agreeable. 
The  reading  and  study  of  the  past  few  years 
enabled  me  to  shine  as  a  conversationalist,  and 
in  my  present  regenerated  mood  I  had,  on  the 
other  hand,  no  temptation  to  play  the  pedant  or 
moralist.  I  tried  to  be  amusing  and  to  appear 
clever ;  and  I  was  pleased  to  read  a  favorable 
verdict  upon  my  effort  in  the  attentions  of  men 
as  a  rule  unsusceptible,  and  in  the  amazed  coun 
tenance  of  Aunt  Helen. 

Her  satisfaction  at  the  course  of  events  was  not 
disguised ;  but  she  was  diplomatic  enough,  in 
her  conversations  with  me,  not  to  take  to  herself 
the  glory  of  the  evolution.  She  contented  her 
self  by  way  of  recrimination  in  such  expressions 
as  —  "To  think,  Virginia,  how  near  you  came 
to  throwing  yourself  away !  "  and,  "  It  takes  a 
great  load  off  my  mind  to  see  you  yourself  once 
again."  But  after  the  first  few  entertainments 
at  which  we  were  present  together,  I  often 
caught  her  looking  at  me  with  a  sort  of  wonder, 
as  though  she  could  scarcely  believe  that  the 
brilliant  young  person  whose  reappearance  in 
the  social  world  was  the  sensation  of  a  success 
ful  season  could  really  be  her  niece. 


A  ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.          235 

One  evening  as  we  were  sitting  after  our  re 
turn  from  an  especially  pleasant  dinner-party, 
Aunt  Helen  surveyed  me  contentedly  through 
her  eye-glass,  and  said  :  — 

"  I  have  never  seen  you  look  or  appear  better 
in  your  life  than  you  did  to-night,  my  dear.  Your 
dress  set  to  perfection,  and  you  were  very  agree 
able." 

I  dropped  a  little  curtsy  in  return. 

"  Yes, "  she  continued,  "  I  will  not  disguise 
that  there  was  a  time  about  a  year  ago  when  I 
felt  very  anxious  in  regard  to  you.  Eccentricity, 
as  I  have  often  told  you  before,  is  all  very  well 
when  one  has  nothing  to  lose  and  everything  to 
gain  by  it.  I  can  understand  how  a  young  person 
with  no  antecedents  or  opportunities  for  getting 
on  in  society  might  secure  a  temporary  advantage 
by  making  herself  an  object  of  remark.  But  in 
your  case  it  has  always  seemed  to  me  wholly  in 
explicable.  Every  one  knows  who  you  are  and 
all  about  you,  already.  However,  all  is  well  that 
ends  well,  and  it  is  an  unspeakable  relief  to  me 
that  you  have  come  to  your  senses  at  last." 

"  Don't  crow,  Aunt  Helen,  until  you  are  out  of 
the  woods.  I  may  be  merely  a  meteor  that  will 
vanish  some  day  as  quickly  as  I  appeared,  and 
leave  you  all  in  the  dark." 


236          A   ROMANTIC    YOUNG  LADY. 

"  You  are  your  own  mistress,  of  course.  If  I 
take  any  credit  to  myself  for  what  you  are  to-day, 
Virginia,  it  is  because  I  have  never  interfered  with 
anything  you  chose  to  do.  I  have  expressed 
my  opinion  of  course  when  I  thought  you  were 
making  mistakes,  but  I  have  stopped  short  at 
that.  Others  in  the  same  position  might  have 
behaved  differently ;  but  it  is  not  my  way.  I  said 
to  myself,  '  If  her  own  good  sense  does  not  teach 
her,  nothing  will.'  So,  too,  now  that  you  have 
justified  my  confidence  in  you,  I  have  no  temp 
tation  to  act  otherwise.  You  will  do  what  you 
prefer,  of  course.  But  naturally  I  have  my  own 
ideas  as  to  what  is  desirable  for  you." 

"  You  have  been  very  good  to  me  always,"  I 
replied,  smiling  at  this  bland  assumption  of  tact; 
"  and  I  always  like  to  hear  what  you  have  to  say." 

"  Well,  dear,  it  seems  to  me  that  with  a  very 
little  trouble  you  can  have  the  most  attractive 
house  in  town.  One  hears  it  so  often  said  that 
we  have  nothing  to  correspond  to  what  the 
French  call  salons,  —  those  delightful  entertain 
ments  one  reads  about,  where  every  one  is  either 
clever  or  distinguished.  Of  course  every  one  is 
not  really  clever,  but  made  to  appear  so, —  the 
whole  secret  lying  in  the  power  of  some  charm 
ing  and  talented  woman  to  select  and  combine 


A   ROMANTIC    YOUNG  LADY.  237 

harmoniously:  even  the  most  stupid  people  (if 
it  is  necessary  to  invite  them)  are  made  to  say 
amusing  things.  You  know  of  course  what  I 
mean.  It  has  been  tried  here,  but  rarely  with 
success.  It  requires  both  brains  and  personal 
attractions,  and  our  women  who  possess  one  are 
too  apt  to  imagine  they  have  the  other  also.  But 
it  has  occurred  to  me,  several  times  lately,  that 
you'are  just  the  person  to  attempt  it.  I  may  say 
without  flattery,  dear,  that  you  are  considered 
very  handsome,  and  people  have  an  impression 
that  you  are  clever,  —  which  is  better  even  than 
really  being  so,  and  I  do  not  mean  to  say  that  you 
are  not,  for  I  think  you  are.  You  have  had  an 
excellent  education,  and  have  a  taste  for  books, 
and  all  that  sort  of  thing.  The  fact  that  you 
have  been  known  to  be  peculiar  would  rather 
add  to  your  chances  of  success  than  otherwise, 
for  it  would  throw  a  little  air  of  mystery  about 
you.  Then  you  have  a  beautiful  house  and  the 
means  to  entertain  elegantly ;  and  last,  but  not 
least,  you  have  an  assured  position.  The  trouble 
is  so  apt  to  be,  that  those  who  attempt  anything 
of  the  sort  are  not  known.  All  the  talent  in 
the  world  will  not  be  able  to  constitute  a  salon 
unless  one  possesses,  and  is  intimate  with  others 
who  possess,  that  indescribable  something  which 


238          A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

every  one  understands,  but  which  it  is  difficult  to 
put  into  words.  Yes,  Virginia,  you  have  a  great 
opportunity  before  you,  if  only  you  choose  to 
take  advantage  of  it" 

Curiously  enough,  this  view  of  Aunt  Helen 
was  quite  similar  to  certain  ideas  which  I  myself 
had  been  revolving  since  my  return  to  conven 
tional  habits.  I  foresaw  that  my  interest  in  balls 
and  parties  merely  as  such  was  sure  to  wane 
before  long,  and  that  if  I  wished  to  obtain  con 
tinued  diversion  from  society  it  must  be  by  force 
of  some  such  programme  as  that  which  she  had 
suggested.  In  short,  I  felt  that  the  tone  and 
standard  of  social  life  might  be  raised  if  one  set 
about  it  in  the  right  way.  As  Aunt  Helen  said, 
there  were  really  no  reasons  why  my  house 
should  not  become  a  centre  of  elegance  and  re 
finement,  which,  however  far  distant  from  the 
conception  of  a  salon,  might  give  pleasure  of  a 
legitimate  sort  to  a  large  number  of  people. 

So  much  did  this  scheme  grow  upon  me,  that 
by  another  winter  I  was  busy  in  putting  it  into 
execution.  Thanks  to  the  past  energy  of  Aunt 
Helen,  my  house  was  already  very  nearly  up  to 
the  mark  as  a  model  of  luxury  and  taste.  I 
gave  a  series  of  entertainments  which  I  sought 
to  make  as  distinguished  and  agreeable  as  pos- 


A   ROMANTIC    YOUNG  LADY.  239 

sible.  Upon  a  foundation  of  the  most  fastidious 
and  well-bred  of  my  acquaintances  I  cast  a 
sprinkling  of  clever  men  who  commonly  found 
parties  a  bore,  original  but  outlandish  women, 
representatives  of  every  sort  of  talent,  local  and 
visiting  celebrities,  and  every  desirable  stranger 
in  town.  They  all  would  be  glad  to  come  for 
once,  I  knew.  The  vital  point  was  to  induce 
them  to  come  again.  To  effect  this,  I  left  no 
stone  unturned  and  begrudged  no  expenditure. 
I  found  it  somewhat  up-hill  work  at  first, 'but 
none  the  less  were  my  efforts  crowned  with  suc 
cess  in  the  end.  My  house  grew  to  be  the 
favorite  resort  alike  of  the  fashionable  and  the 
cultivated ;  and  to  keep  it  so  created  an  interest 
in  my  life  which  relieved  the  sombreness  of  my 
other  occupations. 

In  the  pursuance  of  this  object  I  gave  free 
scope  to  a  taste  which  I  had  been  educating  in  a 
quiet  way  ever  since  my  youth, —  that  of  collect 
ing  pictures.  I  had  a  room  in  the  house  admir 
ably  adapted  for  the  purpose  fitted  up  as  a  gal 
lery,  and  in  a  short  time  had  got  together  the 
nucleus  of  a  valuable  display  of  masterpieces. 
By  degrees  it  came  to  be  known  that  this  was 
the  case,  and  I  found  pleasure  in  allowing  the 
public  to  see  them  on  certain  days. 


240          A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

One  day  I  was  puzzled  by  the  arrival  of  a 
picture  carefully  boxed  up  and  addressed  to  me, 
which  on  opening  I  discovered  to  be  the  portrait 
of  me  which  Paul  Barr  had  painted.  In  select 
ing  material  for  my  entertainments  I  had  natu 
rally  thought  of  him  among  the  first,  but  inquiry 
failed  to  discover  his  whereabouts.  He  had  left 
town  a  few  days  subsequent  to  the  harassing 
scene  between  us,  and  there  were  no  traces  of 
him  beyond  the  direction  on  the  door  of  his 
studio  that  all  communications  intrusted  to  the 
janitor  of  the  building  would  ultimately  reach 
him.  To  this  address  I  sent  several  notes  of 
invitation,  hoping  perhaps  to  catch  him  on  the 
wing  or  lure  him  from  retirement.  But  at  the 
time  the  portrait  arrived  I  had  ceased  to  make 
further  attempts.  There  was  no  note  or  card 
accompanying  it,  but  the  bold  superscription  left 
no  doubt  in  my  mind  as  to  the  donor.  A  few 
weeks  later  I  was  astonished  and  delighted  at 
one  of  my  receptions  to  see  the  artist-poet's 
massive  figure  towering  above  the  other  guests, 
and  an  instant  later  we  had  exchanged  the  most 
cordial  of  hand-shakings,  attended  on  his  part 
as  ever  by  profuse  gesture  and  compliment,  and 
on  mine  by  genuine  good-will,  which  it  was  easy 
to  see  he  reciprocated.  He  looked  little  changed, 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.          241 

unless  it  were  that  he  was  handsomer  and  more 
extraordinary  than  formerly,  and  his  presence 
caused  much  lively  speculation  as  to  the  new 
celebrity  I  had  unearthed.  He  had  been  abroad, 
studying  and  travelling,  —  and  trying  to  forget, 
he  added.  The  last  he  had  found  impossible,  he 
said ;  but  though  he  sighed  as  he  spoke,  I  knew 
that  his  wound  was  healed.  He  was  to  resume 
his  work  at  once ;  had  brought  back  a  host  of 
ideas  he  was  eager  to  put  into  execution,  and 
was  what  he  called  "  under  the  mastery  of  the 
twin  demi-gods  —  necessity  and  aspiration." 

Later  I  thanked  him  for  his  picture,  which  I 
told  him,  as  was  notably  the  case,  artistic  circles 
were  raving  over.  Indeed,  when  I  let  it  be 
known  that  the  handsome  stranger  was  no  other 
than  Paul  Barr,  whose  genius  was  already  cele 
brated,  he  received  an  ovation.  Nor  was  it  ex 
hausted  at  my  house.  He  was  instantly  taken 
up  by  the  critics  and  by  fashionable  folk  alike,  to 
such  an  extent  that  I  became  apprehensive  lest 
so  much  attention  would  detract  from  the  merit 
of  his  new  work.  But  though  I  feared  from  what 
was  whispered  concerning  him  that  his  temper 
ament  and  habits  were  still  mercurial,  he  had 
evidently  studied  to  some  purpose ;  for  his  pic 
tures,  the  abandon  of  which  would  have  shocked 
16 


242  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

Mr.  Spence  more  than  ever,  became  instantly 
the  vogue,  and  brought  him  speedy  fame  and 
fortune.  For  both  of  these  he  persisted  in  con 
sidering  himself  indebted  to  me.  I  never  ven 
tured  to  run  the  risk  of  wounding  his  sensibili 
ties  by  offering  him  anything  for  the  portrait, 
although  in  a  merchantable  sense  its  value  was 
excessive. 

I  have  not  spoken  of  my  Aunt  Agnes ;  but  up 
to  this  time  there  was  little  to  be  said  of  her.  She 
kept  up  the  even  tenor  of  her  ways,  which  in 
cluded  a  repellent  air  toward  me  for  long  after 
my  father's  death.  She  might  have  forgotten 
and  forgiven  the  past,  but  in  my  choice  of  Aunt 
Helen  as  a  companion  I  had  added  insult  to  in 
jury.  There  was  no  open  breach  of  course,  but 
our  relations  were  not  cordial.  I  tried  at  times 
to  ameliorate  the  situation  by  sending  her  pres 
ents,  and  trying  to  let  her  see  when  we  met  that 
I  was  still  studious  and  anxious  to  lead  a  sober 
life.  But  all  in  vain.  She  was  resolute  in  the 
belief  that  to  have  refused  an  offer  of  marriage 
from  such  a  man  as  Mr.  Spence  was  inconsis 
tent  with  a  serious  desire  for  self-improvement. 
She  doubtless  was  abetted  in  this  view  by  Miss 
Kingsley,  who  continued  to  be  intimate  at  her 
house  despite  her  increasing  appropriation  of 


A   ROMANTIC    YOUNG  LADY.          243 

Mr.  Spence.  The  philosopher  was  said  to  be 
more  and  more  under  her  thrall  every  day,  as  I 
was  informed  by  Mr.  Fleisch  whom  I  invited 
to  several  of  my  receptions.  He  told  me  he  was 
himself  no  longer  in  harmony  with  Mr.  Spence, 
or  rather  that  the  master  could  not  afford  to  pay 
him  a  sufficient  salary  to  warrant  him  in  devot 
ing  his  entire  time  to  the  doctrine  of  Moderation. 
His  condensed  music  had  not  sold,  and  he  had 
been  forced,  in  order  to  support  his  wife  and 
child  (for  he  was  married  now),  to  adopt  the  old 
system  of  composition,  and  to  give  music  les 
sons.  This  had  caused  a  coolness  on  the  part 
of  Mr.  Spence,  who,  as  Mr.  Fleisch  expressed  it, 
wished  to  have  all  or  none.  But  though  he  was 
no  longer  the  chief  disciple,  he  held  the  master 
in  the  profoundest  regard  and  affection.  He 
assured  me,  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  that  nothing 
but  the  stress  of  absolute  want  could  have  in 
duced  him  to  sacrifice  artistic  truth  to  expedi 
ency,  and  that  he  stole  hours  from  sleep  that  he 
might  continue  to  carry  on  his  investigations 
still.  Here  again  I  was  able  to  be  of  some  ser 
vice,  for  I  introduced  Mr.  Fleisch  as  a  compe 
tent  and  conscientious  musical  instructor  to  a 
number  of  my  friends,  who  seemed  to  find  him 
all  that  I  described.  He  played  several  of  his 


244  A    ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

pieces  at  my  house  with  much  frlat,  even  in 
cluding  one  of  those  which  illustrated  Modera 
tion.  But  I  noticed  as  he  became  more  popular 
and  prosperous  that  he  seemed  content  to  ad 
here  to  the  conventional  methods,  and  to  avoid 
allusion  to  his  former  hobbies. 

Though  I  sent  cordial  invitations  to  Mr. 
Spence  to  lecture  at  my  receptions,  he  invariably 
declined.  I  sometimes  fancied  that  it  might  be 
because  I  did  not  extend  them  to  Miss  Kingsley 
also.  I  judged  from  what  I  saw  in  the  news 
papers,  as  well  as  from  what  Mr.  Fleisch  told 
me,  that  the  number  of  his  followers  was  dimin 
ishing  in  spite  of  his  most  earnest  efforts,  and 
that  Miss  Kingsley  was  now  his  only  really 
devoted  supporter.  The  knowledge  of  this 
counteracted  my  scruples  against  her  so  far  that 
I  sent  an  invitation  to  them  both,  with  the  assur 
ance  that  Mr.  Spence's  lecture  should  be  the 
feature  of  the  occasion.  They  accepted,  not 
altogether  to  my  surprise,  and  I  did  my  best  to 
select  an  appreciative  audience.  Mr.  Spence 
looked  worn  and  dispirited  I  thought,  but  as  he 
warmed  to  his  theme  the  light  in  his  eyes 
seemed  as  vivid  as  ever.  The  sweetness  of  his 
tones  was  however  unfortunately  impaired  by  a 
heavy  cold,  and  though  I,  being  familiar  with 


A   ROMANTIC  YOUNG  LADY.  245 

the  lecture,  —  "  Tension  and  Torpor  of  the 
Nerves,"  —  felt  some  of  my  old  enthusiasm,  it 
was  soon  evident  to  me  that  the  majority  of  his 
listeners  were  bored.  The  appearance  of  Miss 
Kingsley  likewise  created  an  impression  that  re 
acted  on  the  philosopher.  She  was  very  much 
overdressed,  and  made  a  marked  effort  to  carry 
the  assembly  by  storm.  She  played  the  double 
r61e  of  a  would-be  arch  coquette  and  hero- 
worshipper,  and  while  chanting  the  talent  of  the 
lecturer,  omitted  no  effort  to  secure  admiration 
on  her  own  account.  There  are  always  a  few 
men  who  are  amused  for  the  moment  by  this 
sort  of  thing,  but  I  could  see  the  eye-glasses  of 
the  censors  raised  wondcringly,  and  the  turned 
shoulders  grow  colder,  as  the  evening  advanced. 
I  was  sorry  for  them  both,  even  for  her;  and 
not  many  days  after,  I  wrote  Mr.  Spence  a  long 
letter,  in  which  I  referred  to  the  great  influence 
in  the  way  of  discipline  which  I  felt  his  instruc 
tion  had  had  upon  me,  and  inclosed  a  check  for 
a  considerable  sum,  which  I  asked  him  to  ac 
cept  as  a  contribution  towards  endowing  a  school 
where  lectures  should  be  delivered  on  the  lead 
ing  features  of  Moderation.  I  cannot  say  that  I 
did  this  without  some  scruples,  on  the  score  that 
I  no  longer  had  much  faith  in  the  soundness  of 


246  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

any  of  his  ideas,  but  I  condoned  the  weakness 
with  my  conscience  by  debiting  the  amount  to 
charity.  After  all,  he  could  not  do  much  harm 
by  his  teachings,  and  I  hated  to  think  that  a 
man  so  earnest  as  he  should  know  the  bitterness 
of  total  failure. 

But  my  kind  intentions  met  a  cruel  rebuff. 
On  the  following  morning  I  received  a  formal 
note  in  Miss  Kingsley's  handwriting,  which  stated 
that  Mr.  Spence  had  desired  her  to  say  that  it 
was  impossible  for  him  to  accept  the  money, 
and  that  she  was  my  "  obedient  servant,  Lucretia 
Kingsley."  My  attention  was  called  by  a  friend 
the  same  day  to  a  long  item  in  the  "  Sunday 
Mercury,"  which  while  extolling  the  lecture  of 
Mr.  Spence  at  my  house,  and  announcing  that 
among  the  guests  was  the  "  authoress  Miss 
Kingsley,  who  wore,  etc."  contained  a  disagree 
able  comment  on  what  was  called  "  the  lavish 
luxury  and  lack  of  discriminating  reverence  for 
the  best  sentiments  of  the  day,  which  character 
ized  the  principal  parlors." 

The  next  time  I  went  to  see  Aunt  Agnes  I 
received  an  explanation  of  this  conduct,  though 
my  name  had  appeared  once  or  twice  before 
during  the  past  few  years  in  uncomplimentary 
paragraphs.  She  upbraided  me  at  once  with  a 


A  ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  247 

renewed  attempt  to  divert  the  attention  of  Mr. 
Spence  from  his  labors  to  myself.  Miss  Kings- 
ley  had  come  to  her  with  tears  in  her  eyes,  and 
described  the  Babylonian  influences  by  which  I 
had  sought  to  seduce  him.  He  had  gone,  she 
said,  at  the  call  of  duty  to  accomplish  what  good 
he  might,  but  never  in  the  whole  course  of  his 
professional  experience  had  his  words  fallen  on 
a  more  flinty  and  barren  soil.  And  then,  as  if 
it  were  not  enough  to  flaunt  in  the  face  of  my 
old  master  the  extravagances  most  hostile  to 
the  theories  of  which  he  was  the  advocate, 
I  had  sought  to  tempt  him  with  money  to  be 
come  a  perpetual  presence  at  my  immoderate 
receptions. 

"Bah!  "  exclaimed  Aunt  Agnes  in  the  ardor 
of  her  indignation,  as  she  finished  the  account  of 
Miss  Kingsley's  narrative, — ."bah!  Trying  to 
lead  a  sober  life!  Tell  me!  I  hear  on  all  sides 
that  your  house  has  become  a  hot-bed  of  all  that 
is  worldly  and  luxurious  in  the  city.  And  not 
content  with  that,  you  are  scheming  to  corrupt 
the  one  who  in  this  money-worshipping  age  is 
faithful  to  principle.  I  am  almost  disposed  to 
say  for  the  last  time,  '  Go  your  own  ways,  and 
never  come  near  me  again.'  " 

"  Do  not  say  that  yet,  Auut  Agnes.     Wait  a 


248  A  ROMANTIC  YOUNG  LADY. 

little,"  I  answered,  genuinely  moved  by  the  dis 
tress  of  the  old  lady. 

"  If  I  were  to  wait  until  doomsday  it  would 
be  still  the  same.  You  are  no  longer  a  child ; 
and  though  you  have  Harlan  blood  in  your 
veins,  I  am  beginning  to  feel  that  I  have  wasted 
my  best  affections  on  a  worthless  subject.  If 
you  were  my  own  daughter,  I  could  not  have 
been  more  unhappy  on  your  account.  Thank 
Heaven  !  I  shall  soon  be  in  my  grave." 

I  left  the  house  feeling  very  much  like  crying, 
for  the  mood  of  Aunt  Agnes  was  less  defiant 
and  more  pitiful  than  usual.  It  seemed  as 
though  her  iron  spirit  had  yielded  at  last  to  the 
repeated  opposition  of  an  unkind  world.  And 
of  those  who  had  resisted  her  wishes  and  com 
mands  I  was  certainly  among  the  chief.  I  had 
tried,  was  trying  now,  to  live  what  she  liked  to 
call  a  sober  life, — but  all  in  vain,  so  far  as  win 
ning  her  approval.  Was  there  no  way  in  which 
I  could  make  her  happy,  and  smooth  the  stern 
frown  from  her  features  before  she  died?  I 
would  certainly  make  the  endeavor;  and  under 
the  influence  of  this  determination  I  revolved 
with  a  freshened  interest  as  I  went  along  the 
street  the  circumstances  of  a  curious  incident 
that  had  befallen  me  a  week  ago  at  Mr.  Chelm's 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.          249 

office.  So  absorbed  was  I  that  I  did  not  notice 
the  approach  of  Mr.  Spence  and  Miss  Kingsley 
until  they  were  close  upon  me.  I  bowed  with 
politeness;  but  though  the  philosopher  hesi 
tated,  he  turned  his  pale  face  away  and  looked 
in  another  direction.  As  for  Miss  Kingsley, 
she  regarded  me  with  a  cold  and  haughty  stare, 
as  though  we  had  never  met. 


250  A  ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 


II. 


r  I  ^HE  incident  to  which  I  have  vaguely  al 
luded  was  the  result  of  an  arrangement 
between  Mr.  Chelm  and  myself,  that  the  door 
connecting  our  offices  should  be  left  ajar  during 
the  visits  of  his  clients,  except  where  privacy  was 
important.  In  the  latter  case  he  was  very  care 
ful,  of  course,  to  close  it;  but  unless  he  did  so  I 
had  his  permission  to  listen  to  what  was  said. 
This  soon  became  my  favorite  diversion,  and  I 
even  came  to  the  office  for  the  purpose  on  other 
days  than  my  usual  one.  A  great  many  strange 
people  came  to  consult  Mr.  Chelm,  and  I  thus 
picked  up  a  stock  of  miscellaneous  information 
about  business  matters  as  well  as  some  new 
ideas  regarding  human  nature.  Sometimes  when 
the  visitors  seemed  particularly  interesting  I 
would  venture  to  peep  round  the  corner  or 
through  the  crack  of  the  door,  so  as  to  catch  a 
glimpse  of  them.  Afterward  Mr.  Chelm  often 
told  me  more  about  them,  and  in  instances  where 
pecuniary  aid  could  be  of  service  allowed  me  to 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  251 

come  to  the  rescue ;  for  there  were  numerous 
persons  who  resorted  to  him  for  relief,  knowing 
that  he  was  a  charitable  man  who  had  helped 
others.  If  he  had  the  leisure,  he  always  lent  a 
sympathetic  ear  to  their  stories,  and  if  he  could 
not  aid  them  was  uniformly  kind  and  considerate. 

I  was  struck  by  the  number  of  applicants  for 
employment.  "  Give  us  something  to  do,  and 
we  can  get  along.  We  want  work,  not  money," 
was  the  too  frequent  petition,  for  it  was  just  this 
class  of  persons  whom  Mr.  Chelm  found  it  most 
difficult  to  assist.  So  many  of  them  too  were 
educated  and  intelligent  young  men  and  women, 
unaccustomed  to  hardships  and  to  shift  for  them 
selves,  driven  out  of  work  by  the  continued 
hardness  of  the  times.  For  nearly  five  years 
business  had  been  at  a  stand-still,  Mr.  Chelm 
told  me,  and  as  a  consequence  property  had  de 
preciated  sadly  in  value,  and  an  immense  amount 
of  distress  been  caused  among  people  of  mod 
erate  means.  To  many  a  tale  of  destitution  I  thus 
listened  with  tears  in  my  eyes,  and  on  more  than 
one  occasion  was  able  to  procure  at  least  tem 
porary  occupation  for  the  sufferers. 

One  morning  as  I  was  thus  sitting  hoping  for 
some  client  to  arrive,  I  saw  through  the  half 
open  door  a  young  man  dressed  in  the  height 


252  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

of  fashion,  bien  gantt,  bien  c/iauss/,  and  at 
tended  by  the  very  ugliest  bull-terrier  it  had 
ever  been  my  lot  to  gaze  on,  enter  Mr.  Chelm's 
office.  I  had  by  this  time  learned  to  divine  usu 
ally  the  errands  of  clients  before  they  began  to 
speak,  and  I  made  up  my  mind  that  this  hand 
some  young  dandy  —  for  he  was  extremely 
good-looking  to  boot  —  must  be  the  heir  to 
some  large  estate  which  he  wished  to  intrust  to 
the  care  of  Mr.  Chelm,  or  that  he  had  got  en 
tangled  with  an  actress,  and  was  in  search  of 
legal  aid  to  release  him  from  the  meshes  of 
the  net.  In  either  event  I  expected  to  have  the 
door  closed  in  my  face,  and  the  stranger's  secret 
to  remain  sealed  from  me  forever.  I  placed  my 
chair  however  so  that  I  should  be  screened  from 
observation  and  yet  within  ear-shot,  prepared  to 
see  and  listen  as  long  as  should  be  possible. 

The  visitor  drew  a  card  from  a  very  dainty 
case  and  laid  it  on  Mr.  Chelm's  desk. 

"  My  name  is  Prime,  sir,  —  Francis  Prime.     I 
have  come  to  consult  you  on  a  business  matter." 

"Pray  sit  down,  Mr.  Prime.     What  is  it  I  can 
do  for  you?" 

"  You  knew  my  father,  I  think?  " 

"Ralph  Prime,  of  New  York?     Most   assur 
edly.     I  had  a  high  regard  for  him." 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.          253 

"  I  am  his  only  son.  He  died,  as  you  may  be 
aware,  five  years  ago  in  reduced  circumstances, 
because  he  preferred  to  remain  honest.  An  odd 
erratic  choice,  was  it  not?" 

"  I  was  sorry  to  hear  he  had  been  unfortu 
nate,"  answered  Mr.  Chelm  quietly. 

"  Yes,  sir,  paradoxical  as  it  may  seem,  my 
father  was  an  honest  man.  One  might  have 
supposed  his  only  son  would  inherit  that  trait,  if 
nothing  else.  But  it  must  have  skipped  a  gen 
eration.  I  am  not  what  I  seem.  I  am  a  sham." 
He  sat  in  silence  for  some  minutes  stroking  his 
mustache. 

"  I  judge  that  you  have  got  into  some  diffi 
culty,  Mr.  Prime.  If  so,  I  am  very  sorry  to  hear 
it.  Be  frank  with  me,  and  as  your  father's  friend 
I  will  do  what  I  can  for  you.  But  as  a  lawyer  I 
must  ask  you  to  conceal  nothing."  So  saying 
Mr.  Chelm  made  a  move  as  if  to  close  the  door. 

"  Pray,  do  not  trouble  yourself,  sir.  My  story 
is  already  known  to  so  many  people  that  pri 
vacy  is  immaterial.  Let  me,  instead,  ask  per 
mission  to  light  a  cigarette,  —  that  is,  if  you  do 
not  object  to  smoking  and  are  sufficiently  at 
leisure  to  hear  me  to  the  end." 

"  Certainly.  Make  it  a  cigar  and  I  will  join 
you ;  and  pray  try  one  of  these  if  you  will,  for 


254          A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

my  time  is  quite  at  your  disposal,"  answered  Mr. 
Chelm,  who  it  was  evident  to  me  was  amused  and 
puzzled  by  his  visitor. 

"Thank  you."  He  settled  himself  comfor 
tably  in  his  chair,  and  after  a  preliminary  puff, 
said:  "  I  am  no  ordinary  felon.  I  am  even  not, 
strictly  speaking,  amenable  to  the  laws.  I  am 
however,  as  I  have  told  you  already,  a  sham. 
The  world  believes  me  to  be  a  young  fellow  of 
fortune,  whose  only  concern  is  with  the  cut  of 
his  coat  and  the  smile  of  his  mistress.  The 
world  for  once  is  in  error.  I  am  nothing  of  the 
sort.  Appearances  are  against  me,  I  admit. 
Even  you  I  fancy  were  deceived.  No,  my  dear 
sir,  while  every  one  judges  me  to  be  a  mere 
butterfly  of  fashion,  I  am  an  idealist  at  heart. 
And  the  worst  of  it  is  that  no  one  will  believe 
me.  All  that  I  want  is  a  chance,  an  opportu 
nity  to  prove  I  am  that  which  I  claim ;  but  no 
body  will  give  it  to  me.  If  I  venture  to  suggest 
that  I  am  in  earnest,  the  statement  excites  sneers 
or  ridicule.  For  nearly  two  years  I  have  been 
trying  to  find  something  to  do,  and  without  suc 
cess.  I  have  exhausted  my  own  city,  and  have 
now  come  to  yours.  Your  name  was  familiar  to 
me  as  one  which  my  father  respected,  and  it  oc 
curred  to  me  to  tell  you  my  story.  I  am  quite 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.          255 

prepared  to  be  informed  that  there  are  a  thou 
sand  applicants  for  every  vacancy,  and  that  such 
a  case  as  mine  is  not  especially  deserving.  In 
one  sense  of  the  word  you  would  be  right ;  there 
are  others  who  suffer  more  acutely  than  I,  but 
few  who  suffer  more  unjustly.  And  the  whole 
cause  is  to  be  found  in  a  single  phrase, — I  am 
a  gentleman." 

"You  are  indeed  to  be  pitied,"  said  Mr. 
Chelm,  with  an  amused  laugh. 

"And  what  is  more,  it  is  not  my  fault.  I  am 
not  responsible  for  it;  I  was  born  so.  My  case 
is  precisely  opposite  to  that  of  most  of  my  con 
temporaries.  They  find  it  easy  enough  to  get 
occupation,  but  very  difficult  to  be  gentlemen ; 
I  know  how  to  behave  like  a  gentleman,  but  can 
find  nothing  to  do.  Gentlemen  are  evolved,  not 
made.  Would  to  Heaven  I  had  been  consulted 
on  the  subject !  But  I  awoke  one  day  and 
found  myself  what  I  am.  Let  me  rehearse  to 
you  briefly  my  qualifications.  I  was  sent  to 
school  abroad,  and  was  graduated  from  college 
at  home.  I  speak  fluently  three  modern  lan 
guages  besides  my  own,  and  have  a  bowing  ac 
quaintance  with  two  dead  ones.  I  have  read 
widely  enough  in  history,  political  economy,  lit 
erature,  science,  and  music  to  be  superficial.  I 


256  A    ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

can  write  verses,  play  on  the  piano  and  flute, 
fence,  flirt,  and  lead  the  cotillon.  All  this  the 
public  seem  to  recognize  and  give  me  credit 
for;  but  when  I  ask  them  to  take  me  seriously,  as 
they  would  the  veriest  beggar  in  the  street,  the 
frivolous  look  incredulous  and  giggle,  and  the 
practical  frown  and  point  me  to  the  door.  And 
why?  Simply, —  and  this  will,  it  may  be,  anti 
cipate  your  criticism, —  simply  because  I  wear 
well-fitting  clothes,  address  a  lady  with  gallantry, 
and  change  my  coat  for  dinner.  Let  me  add  at 
once,  if  you  have  no  assistance  to  offer  as  to  how 
I  shall  find  employment  except  to  go  from 
office  to  office  with  a  long  face  and  baggy  trou 
sers,  I  must  respectfully  decline  to  take  the  step. 
It  has  become  a  matter  of  pride  with  me : 
I  draw  the  line  there.  Call  it  volatile,  foolish, 
obstinate,  what  you  will,  —  I  propose  to  be  a 
gentleman  to  the  last.  I  will  starve  with  a  smile 
on  my  face  and  a  flawless  coat  on  my  back, 
though  it  be  my  only  one.  As  I  have  said, 
gentlemen  are  evolved,  not  made ;  and  we  owe  it 
to  our  sons  to  keep  up  the  standard  of  the  race. 
They  will  not  even  allow,  sir,  that  I  am  an 
American.  I  am  received  with  scorn,  and  de 
nied  my  birthright,  not  only  by  those  to  whom 
I  apply  for  work,  but  by  the  Arabs  of  the  street 


A    ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  257 

and  the  public  press.  I  am  not  complaining;  I 
am  merely  stating  the  facts  of  the  case.  They 
even  cast  Ike  in  my  teeth,  —  Ike  the  imperious, 
beautifully  ugly  Ike,"  he  added,  stooping  down 
to  pat  the  bull  terrier,  who  showed  his  teeth 
and  growled  affectionately.  "  Now,  Mr.  Chclm, 
you  have  my  story.  I  am  in  earnest.  Will  you 
help  me?" 

"  I  can  understand  your  difficulties  to  some  ex 
tent,  Mr.  Prime,  and  am  not  altogether  without 
sympathy  for  you,"  began  the  lawyer  gravely, 
after  a  short  reflection.  "  The  times  are  hard  for 
everybody  undeniably,  and  especially  for  young 
men  in  your  position.  It  is  a  comparatively 
easy  matter  to  draw  a  cheque  to  alleviate  distress, 
but  finding  work  for  anybody  to-day  is  next  to 
impossible.  However,  as  one  can  never  tell  what 
may  turn  up,  let  me  ask  you  a  blunt  question. 
What  are  you  fit  for?  What  can  you  do?" 

"  Here  again,  sir,  the  world  would  tell  you 
that  I  was  fit  for  nothing  except  to  play  the  lute 
beneath  a  lady's  window.  But  if  you  will  believe 
me,  I  am  not  without  business  knowledge.  Gen 
tleman  as  I  am,  I  have  long  cherished  an  ambi 
tion  to  become  a  merchant  prince  (it  is  well 
to  aspire  high),  —  a  genuine  merchant-prince, 
however,,  and  not  the  counterfeit  article  who 
17 


258  A   ROMANTIC  YOUNG  LADY. 

accumulates  millions  for  his  children  to  squander. 
I  have  views  upon  the  subject.  I  am  an  idealist, 
as  I  have  told  you,  and  there  was  a  time  when 
I  thought  my  father  very  rich,  and  that  I  should 
be  able  to  carry  out  my  theories.  Since  then 
I  have  resolved  to  win  back  before  I  die  the 
fortune  he  lost ;  and  with  a  view  to  that  I  de 
vote  several  hours  in  each  day  (if  this  should  be 
breathed  abroad,  my  reputation  for  consummate 
emptiness  might  suffer)  to  the  study  of  exports 
and  imports,  markets  and  exchanges,  and  all  that 
relates  to  commercial  affairs.  You  asked  me 
what  I  am  fit  for,  Mr.  Chelm.  My  father  was  a 
banker.  I  should  like  to  follow  in  his  footsteps. 
But  supplicants  cannot  be  choosers.  Procure  me 
a  clerkship  in  any  line  of  business,  and  I  shall  try 
to  prove  myself  worthy  of  your  patronage." 

"  Humph  !  I  wish  I  could  help  you,  with  all 
my  heart.  But,  frankly,  I  know  of  nothing  at 
the  moment.  Bankers  are  discharging  their 
clerks,  not  engaging  new  ones.  I  will  make  in 
quiries  however,  and  see  if  it  is  possible  to  do 
anything  for  you.  You  have  applied  to  all  your 
friends  in  New  York,  you  say,  without  avail?  " 

"  Entirely.  The  few  who  have  any  faith  in 
my  professions  are  powerless  to  give  me  em 
ployment." 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.          259 

"  Let  me  see :  to-day  is  Wednesday.  Can  you 
call  again  on  Saturday,  Mr.  Prime?  Mind,  I 
promise  nothing.  In  fact,  I  have  every  reason 
to  believe  that  I  shall  be  unsuccessful." 

The  appointment  thus  made  was  due  to  my 
touching  the  electric  bell  in  my  office,  —  a  signal 
agreed  upon  as  an  indication  of  my  desire  to 
assist  any  applicant  for  aid.  Accordingly,  when 
I  entered  Mr.  Chelm's  room  after  his  visitor  was 
gone,  I  was  greeted  with  a  bantering  smile. 

"  How  now,  my  fair  philanthropist !  What 
scheme  have  you  to  relieve  the  plight  of  this 
knight-errant?  " 

"In  the  first  place,"  I  said,  "who  is  he? 
Do  you  believe  his  story?  What  sort  of  a  per 
son  was  his  father?  " 

"  Three  questions  in  one  breath  !  The  last  is 
the  easiest  to  answer.  This  young  man's  father 
was  one  of  the  wealthiest  bankers  in  New  York 
fifteen  years  ago.  I  knew  him  well :  a  man  who 
was  the  very  soul  of  honor,  shrewd  and  liberal 
in  his  business  notions,  and  in  his  bearing  the 
pattern  of  a  finished  gentleman,  —  one  of  your 
genuine  aristocrats;  and,  like  his  son,  a  bit  of  a 
dandy.  He  came  to  grief,  as  so  many  of  us  do, 
through  nrsplaced  confidence.  Certain  parties 
whom  he  trusted  implicitly  made  a  wreck  of  his 


260  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

entire  fortune.  It  was  said  at  the  time  that  he 
might  have  saved  a  large  portion  of  it,  had  he 
been  willing  to  take  advantage  of  a  legal  techni 
cality  as  against  his  creditors.  But,  as  his  son 
said,  he  preferred  to  remain  honest.  He  died  not 
many  years  ago,  and  left  this  boy  very  little,  I 
fancy,  but  an  untarnished  name.  Of  the  son  I 
know  really  nothing.  I  have  never  seen  him 
before.  He  is  not  unlike  his  father  in  appear 
ance,  and  is  even  more  fastidious  in  his  dress. 
That  may  be  from  bravado,  of  course.  What 
he  says  about  gentlemen  not  having  a  fair 
chance  in  this  country  has  a  certain  amount 
of  truth  in  it." 

"  A  great  deal  of  truth,  it  seems  to  me,"  I 
answered. 

"  Very  likely.  But  it  is  to  be  borne  in  mind 
that  the  so-called  gentlemen  have  a  heavy  score 
against  them  in  the  past.  They  have  had  their 
innings ;  and  now  that  they  are  out,  democracy 
is  not  disposed  to  let  them  off  too  easily.  The 
sins  of  the  forefathers  being  visited  on  the 
children  is  a  proverb  as  stable  as  the  hills  in 
its  logical  results." 

"  Yes.  But  do  you  not  think  it  is  cruel  to 
turn  the  cold  shoulder  on  a  man  merely  because 
he  dresses  well?  " 


A    ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.          261 

"  Undoubtedly.  But  they  have  themselves  to 
blame  for  it.  The  world  has  not  yet  got  accus 
tomed  to  the  idea  that  a  man  with  a  flawless 
coat  on  his  back  means  to  do  anything.  Not 
so  very  long  ago  such  a  thing  was  unknown.  I 
am  willing  to  admit  that  when  the  gentlemen 
consent  to  work,  they  make  the  best  workers ; 
but  the  burden  of  evidence,  as  we  lawyers  say, 
is  on  them." 

"The  world  refuses  to  believe  because  it  is 
envious.  There  is  n't  one  of  the  business  men 
who  decline  to  give  Mr.  Prime  a  chance  who 
would  n't  give  half  his  fortune  to  be  like  him  if 
he  could." 

"  You  are  a  philosopher  as  well  as  a  philan 
thropist,  young  lady,  I  see.  You  may  not  be 
far  wrong.  But  if  Mr.  Prime  knew  what  a 
champion  he  has,  he  would  cease  to  despair. 
You  asked,  I  think,  if  I  believed  his  story.  It  is 
quite  evident  what  your  opinion  is,"  said  Mr. 
Chelm,  with  a  laugh. 

"  Very  well  then,  I  do  believe  it ;  and  I  want 
to  help  him." 

"  Romance  against  the  lawyers,  ha !  ha !  " 

"  I  am  a  very  determined  young  person  when 
I  make  up  my  mind.  You  cannot  laugh  me  out 
of  it,  Mr.  Chelm."  • 


262  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

"  Heaven  forbid !  But  what  do  you  propose 
to  do?" 

"  Give  him  a  chance." 

The  lawyer  rubbed  his  chin  reflectively.  "  I 
am  perfectly  willing  to  resign  in  his  favor,  but 
otherwise  I  know  of  no  vacancy  either  in  your 
or  my  gift  to  fill,"  he  said  with  a  smile. 

"  I  cannot  spare  you  yet.  I  have  another 
plan." 

"And  that?" 

"  A  very  romantic  one,  as  you  have  predicted. 
I  propose  to  set  him  up  in  business." 

"As  a  gentleman?" 

"  He  is  that  already.     No,  as  a  banker." 

" Indeed !  " 

"  What  do  you  think  of  my  idea?  " 

"  I  have  heard  only  the  beginning  of  it.  It  is 
natural  enough  to  feel  the  inclination  to  set  a 
handsome  young  man  up  as  a  banker;  but  I 
fail  to  comprehend  yet  the  details  of  the 
scheme." 

"  I  shall  leave  them  to  you." 

"To  me?  But  I  regret  to  say,  Miss  Harlan, 
that  I  know  of  no  banking-house  at  present  that 
would  employ  the  services  of  this  embryo  mer 
chant-prince." 

"Oh,  but  you  don't  or  you  won't  understand 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  263 

me.  What  I  propose  is  to  found  a  banking- 
house,  and  furnish  the  capital  myself." 

"  What !  "  Mr.  Chelm  leaned  back  in  his 
chair  and  laughed  heartily.  "  This  is  romance 
with  a  vengeance.  Would  I  were  twenty-five, 
and  in  search  of  occupation !  And  what,  pray, 
is  to  be  the  name  of  the  new  concern?—  Harlan 
and  Prime;  or  Virginia  Harlan  and  Company? 
I  am  confident  it  will  be  a  partnership  for  life." 

"  Francis  Prime  and  Company,  of  course.  I 
will  not  submit  to  be  laughed  at,  Mr.  Chelm. 
This  is  a  serious  business  matter." 

"  Oh,  most  certainly !  Thoroughly  business 
like  in  every  sense !  My  dear  young  lady,  if 
you  expect  me  to  preserve  my  legal  gravity  you 
must  not  be  so  humorous ;  it  is  beyond  the  self- 
control  of  even  a  fusty  conveyancer.  And  what 
part  in  this  financial  idyl  am  I  expected  to 
play!" 

"  You  are  to  arrange  it  all.  I  am  to  furnish 
the  money,  and  remain  strictly  incognito.  That 
is  the  first  and  essential  condition  I  impose." 

"  What !  Mr.  Prime  is  not  to  know  the  name 
of  his  benefactress?" 

"  On  no  account  whatever !" 

"  He  will  be  sure  to  search  the  earth  until  he 
finds  her." 


264          A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

"  Not  if  he  be  made  to  believe  she  is  ancient 
and  homely.  Besides,  how  is  he  to  know  it  is  a 
woman?" 

"  Forgive  me,  Miss  Harlan,  but  no  one  except 
a  woman  could  invent  such  a  project.  It  fairly 
takes  my  breath  away.  How  much  of  your 
capital  do  you  propose  to  embark  in  the  enter 
prise, —  the  whole  four  millions?" 

"  No,  Mr.  Chelm,  I  am  not  utterly  irrational 
yet.  That  is  one  of  the  points  I  mean  to  leave 
to  your  discretion.  I  merely  insist  that  he  shall 
not  be  scrimped.  I  do  not  think,  however,  that 
I  care  to  advance  over  two  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand  dollars." 

"Two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars? 
And  still  you  talk  of  discretion  !  " 

"  Is  not  that  enough?" 

"  Enough  !  Why,  certainly  not.  If  you  are 
bent  upon  the  plan,  at  least  put  it  through  hand 
somely,  Miss  Harlan.  Let  him  have  a  cool 
million  at  once,  and  be  done  with  it." 

"  I  know,  of  course,  that  this  must  seem  very 
quixotic  to  you  as  a  business  man,  Mr.  Chelm," 
I  continued  after  a  moment's  reflection.  "  Very 
likely  you  think  I  am  merely  jesting.  But  I  am 
not.  I  am  perfectly  serious.  I  want  to  help 
Mr.  Prime.  I  was  very  much  interested  by 


A   ROMANTIC  YOUNG  LADY.  26$ 

what  he  said,  and  I  believe  he  is  in  earnest. 
The  plan  that  I  have  just  suggested  seems  to 
me  entirely  feasible.  Even  supposing  that  I 
lose  a  couple  of  hundred  thousand  dollars,  what 
then?  It  is  a  year's  income  at  the  worst; 
whereas,  on  the  other  hand,  if  the  scheme  pros 
pers,  and  he  turns  out  to  be  " 

"  A  merchant  prince,"  interrupted  Mr.  Chelm. 

"Yes,  a  merchant  prince,  as  I  believe  he 
will,"- 

"  You  will  be  married,  and  be  happy  ever  after, 
as  in  other  fairy  stories." 

"  Nothing  of  the  sort,  Mr.  Chelm.  My  con 
clusion  of  the  affair  is  much  less  sentimental. 
In  case  events  result  as  I  hope  and  predict,  I 
shall  be  thankful  that  I  have  given  him  a  chance 
to  put  his  theories  into  practice.  You  may  re 
member  that  he  said  he  had  theories  regarding 
the  use  a  rich  man  should  make  of  his  money." 

"  It  strikes  me  you  are  willing  to  pay  pretty 
dear  for  the  probable  value  of  the  information, 
even  if  matters  turn  out  as  you  expect.  But 
the  money  is  yours,  Miss  Harlan,  not  mine ;  and 
if  you  are  resolved  upon  being  generous  in  this 
wholesale  way,  it  is  not  for  me  to  complain. 
We  lawyers  get  conservative  as  we  grow  older, 
and  any  romance  that  may  have  been  in  us 


266  A   ROMANTIC    YOUNG  LADY. 

dries  up,  like  the  sap  in  trees  that  have  begun 
to  outlast  their  usefulness.  We  know  how  hard 
it  is  to  earn  an  honest  living ;  and  when  we  see 
any  one  in  whom  we  have  an  interest  developing 
a  taste  for  imprudent  speculations,  we  instinc 
tively  utter  a  protest.  Still,  as  you  say,  it  is  but 
a  year's  income ;  and  maybe  the  cheapest  way 
in  the  end  to  teach  you  reason  is  to  humor  this 
expensive  fancy.  If  the  money  is  lost,  you  will 
never  miss  it;  while,  assuming  that  this  young 
man  is  all  your  imagination  paints  him,  I  know 
of  nothing  that  would  give  me  greater  pleasure 
than  to  see  you  happily  married.  That  is  a 
romance  to  which  I  would  say  '  Amen '  with  all 
my  heart." 

"  Thank  you  very  much,  Mr.  Chelm.  But  I 
will  not  obtain  your  connivance  on  any  such 
terms.  If  you  regard  this  as  other  than  a  purely 
business  enterprise,  I  warn  you  that  you  will  be 
wofully  disappointed." 

"  I  shall  have  to  take  my  chance  of  being  right, 
just  as  you  are  going  to  take  yours.  But  come 
now,  since  you  insist  upon  my  treating  this  matter 
seriously,  what  is  it  that  you  wish  me  to  do  ?  " 

"  Everything,  Mr.  Chelm." 

"  Even  to  giving  away  the  bride?  You  must 
promise  me  that,  eh!  Miss  Harlan?" 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.          267 

"  With  pleasure." 

"It  is  a  bargain  then.  Command  my  services 
as  you  will,  —  I  wish  I  could  say  my  capital  also. 
But  unfortunately  I  cannot  afford  to  toss  away 
my  hundreds  of  thousands  like  some  people. 
But  that  is  an  aside.  Tell  me  what  you  wish  me 
to  do.  I  am  all  ears." 

"  To  begin  with,  when  Mr.  Prime  returns  on 
Saturday,  I  should  like  you  to  inform  him  that 
you  happened  by  chance  to  mention  his  pre 
dicament  to  a  friend  of  yours." 

"Of  which  sex?" 

"  That  is  entirely  immaterial.  But  if  he  should 
happen  to  inquire,  I  shall  depend  on  you  to 
preserve  my  incognito.  You  must  even  fib  a 
little,  if  it  is  necessary." 

"  Mercy  on  us !  This  romantic  young  phi 
lanthropist  talks  of  fibbing,  as  if  it  were  the 
most  simple  thing  in  life.  No,  Mademoiselle, 
we  lawyers  never  fib.  If  we  are  ever  obliged 
to  forsake  the  narrow  pathway  of  truth,  we  tell 
a  square,  honest  lie.  But  this  is  positively  my 
last  interruption." 

"You  are  to  tell  him  that  this  friend  of  yours 
was  very  much  interested  in  his  endeavors  to 
find  something  to  do,  and  sympathized  with  his 
determination  to  wear  a  smile  on  his  face  and 


268  A  ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

avoid  baggy  trousers  to  the  last.  That  I  —  I 
mean  of  course  the  friend  —  am  willing  to  give 
him  the  chance  for  which  he  asks  to  prove  him 
self  a  man,  by  placing  in  your  hands  a  sufficient 
sum  to  found  a  banking-house  of  undoubted 
solvency.  He  is  to  have  complete  control  of 
this  money,  on  which  he  may  pay  interest  if  he 
chooses,  in  order  to  satisfy  your  business  scru 
ples,  Mr.  Chelm ;  but  he  need  never  pay  it  back 
unless  he  wishes  to  do  so,  —  the  particulars  of 
all  which  you  will  understand  how  to  arrange 
better  than  I  can  tell  you.  Some  day  in  the  dim 
future,  when  he  has  realized  his  ambition,  —  for 
don't  imagine  for  an  instant,  Mr.  Chelm,  that 
I  expect  him  to  make  a  fortune  all  at  once,  — 
he  may  return  the  original  loan  if  he  sees  fit.  I 
shall  be  an  old  woman  then,  and  should,  it  may 
be,  have  less  objection  to  being  known  as  his 
benefactress  than  at  present.  Let  me  see:  is 
there  anything  else  to  say?  As  to  the  name  of 
the  firm,  it  ought  to  be  Francis  Prime  and  Com 
pany,  I  presume;  but  the  'company'  must  be  a 
man  of  straw.  He  is  to  receive  no  outside  help, 
not  even  from  you.  There,  I  think  I  have  made 
my  wishes  sufficiently  plain." 

"  You  do  not  desire  him  to  give  security  for 
whatever  you  may  advance?     Not  a  very  busi- 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.          269 

ness-like  arrangement.  But  as  for  that,  the 
whole  scheme  is  the  most  Utopian  I  ever  heard 
of.  These  women,  these  women !  It  makes  a 
prudent  man  tremble  to  think  what  would  be 
come  of  the  universe  if  they  had  full  sway  !  But 
I  must  submit,  I  suppose.  I  have  given  my 
word." 

"  I  fear  he  has  no  security  to  offer  unless  it 
be  Ike,  the  beautifully  ugly  Ike ;  Ike  the  impe 
rious  !  Do  you  suppose  he  would  part  with  the 
animal?  I  took  rather  a  fancy  to  him,  didn't 
you  Mr.  Chelm?" 

"  Nay,  there  I  shall  put  down  my  foot.  I  will 
have  no  dogs  in  this  office.  '  Love  me,  love  my 
dog'  is  a  maxim  to  which  I  could  not  subscribe 
even  in  your  case.  No,  unbusiness-like  as  it  is, 
I  prefer  to  make  the  loan  without  security." 

It  may  be  easily  imagined  that  during  the 
next  few  days  I  was  on  tiptoe  with  expecta 
tion.  Let  it  be  said  at  once,  that  I  was  quite 
aware  that  I  was  about  to  commit  what  might 
fairly  be  considered  a  folly  by  prudent-minded 
people.  The  chances  of  my  goose  proving  a 
swan  were  altogether  too  slight  to  justify  the 
extravagance  I  proposed.  But  despite  this  I 
never  once  wavered  in  my  resolution,  nor  suf- 


2/0  A    ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

fered  doubt  to  mar  the  mirror  of  fancy  in  which 
I  chose  to  behold  my  protege  fulfilling  the 
ample  measure  of  his  ambition  in  the  years  to 
come.  What  an  absorbing  interest  it  would  be 
to  me  to  watch  from  behind  my  mask  the  pro 
gress  he  made  !  If  he  proved  successful,  I  could 
feel  that  part  of  the  creating  power  was  mine ; 
for  had  I  not  trusted  him?  Let  a  man  realize  that 
there  is  some  one  who  has  faith  in  him,  and  the 
battle  is  half  won.  Even  suppose  he  were  to 
prove  the  recreant  and  the  impostor  predicted, 
the  world  would  not  be  able  to  jeer  at  me ;  I  could 
hug  my  wretched  secret,  and  none  would  be  the 
wiser.  Decidedly,  I  was  to  be  envied  in  the  ac 
quisition  of  this  new  interest.  It  would  be 
almost  like  having  a  double  self,  for  was  not  my 
hero  pondering  over  the  same  questions  that 
were  constantly  in  my  thoughts,  —  how  a  rich 
man  was  to  spend  his  money?  With  this  dif 
ference,  however :  his  ideas  were  already  settled, 
whereas  mine  were  in  process  of  formation.  I 
was  to  share  with  him  my  fortune,  and  he  would 
enlighten  me  in  turn.  Perhaps  also  there  was  a 
shade  of  irony  in  my  reflections,  and  I  was  eager 
to  see  if  he  would  find  the  role  of  a  merchant- 
prince  so  easy  to  play  as  he  seemed  to  fancy. 
Then,  too,  there  was  a  delightful  element  of 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  271 

uncertainty  and  mystery  about  it  all.  I  was 
original;  I  was  not  copying  every  one  else. 
Although  of  Mr.  Prime  in  a  personal  sense 
I  scarcely  thought  at  all,  there  was  a  romantic 
flavor  to  the  episode  that  stirrqd  my  imagi 
nation. 

So  gay  and  light-hearted  did  I  feel  that  Aunt 
Helen  noted  it,  and  alluded  to  the  fact  with 
pleasure  as  we  sat  together  on  the  Friday  even 
ing  previous  to  Mr.  Prime's  return. 

"  I  have  good  reason  to  be.  I  feel  very  happy 
to-night.  I  could  dance  until  morning,  or  do 
anything  equally  frivolous  and  erratic,"  I  an 
swered  mysteriously.  She  looked  up  with  an 
anxious  expression.  "  No,  Aunt  Helen  dear,  I 
am  not  engaged.  It  is  nothing  so  dreadful  as 
that.  It  is  merely  that  I  think  I  may  have  found 
my  mission  at  last." 

"Mission!  What  does  the  child  mean? 
Don't  tell  me,"  she  cried  with  a  sudden  access 
of  horror,  "  that  you  are  going  out  to  convert 
the  Indians,  or  to  do  any  peculiar  thing  like 
that.  That  would  be  the  last  straw !  " 

"  Try  again,"  I  said  laughing. 

"  You  gave  me  a  scare,  Virginia !  You  are 
such  a  strange  girl,  that,  though  you  are  more 
like  other  people  than  you  used  to  be,  I  can 


272  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

never  feel  quite  sure  of  you.  If  it  isn't  that  you 
are  engaged,  or  going  to  do  something  odd, 
what  is  it,  dear?" 

"  Nothing,  Aunt  Helen.  I  was  merely  ro 
mancing  a  little,  that 's  all.  As  you  say,  I  am  a 
strange  girl,  and  very  likely  what  I  am  thinking 
about  is  all  a  delusion,  and  may  never  come  to 
anything.  I  may  wake  up  any  morning  and  find 
it  is  a  dream.  But  let  your  mind  rest  easy ;  I 
am  not  contemplating  anything  that  will  isolate 
me  from  society." 

"  I  should  hope  not,  I  am  sure,  after  your  last 
experience ;  "  and  I  heard  her  mutter  to  herself 
as  I  went  out  of  the  room,  —  "  Mission?  Why 
does  she  want  to  bother  her  head  about  a  mis 
sion?  I  shall  never  feel  perfectly  safe  until  I  see 
her  well  married." 


A   ROMANTIC    YOUNG  LADY.          273 


III. 

I  HAD  decided  to  be  present  at  the  second 
interview  between  Mr.  Chelm  and  Mr. 
Prime,  for  several  reasons.  I  was  curious  to 
have  another  look  at  my  beneficiary,  and  I  had 
an  impression  that  Mr.  Chelm  might  feel  his 
legal  conscience  prick  him,  and  so  spoil  the  plot, 
if  I  were  not  within  earshot.  When  the  inter 
view  took  place,  however,  the  lawyer  took  a  mild 
revenge  by  toying  with  his  visitor  a  little  at  first, 
as  though  about  to  give  an  unfavorable  answer; 
and  I  shall  never  forget  Mr.  Prime's  expression 
when  the  true  state  of  the  case  was  made  known 
to  him.  After  sitting  in  silence  for  a  moment 
as  though  endeavoring  to  grasp  the  facts,  he 
gave  a  short  incredulous  laugh,  and  stooping 
down  to  pat  Ike,  said  nervously,  — 

"  Is  this  a  joke?     A  ghastly  practical  joke?  " 

"It  sounds  like  one,  doesn't   it?"  said    Mr. 

Chelm  ;  and  he  grinned  from  ear  to  ear.   "  I  fancy, 

though,  that  you  are  not  in  a  mood  to  be  trifled 

with.    No,  you  have  fallen  on  your  feet  this  time, 

young  man.     What  I  have  told  you  is  all  true." 

18 


2/4          A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

"  Do  you  mean  to  say  that  your  friend  wishes 
to  advance  me  two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand 
dollars  to  found  a  banking-house?" 

"  Precisely." 

"  But  I  have  no  security  to  offer." 

"  I  have  already  told  you  that  no  security  will 
be  required." 

"Excuse  me  —  eh  —  but  is  your  friend  of 
sound  mind?" 

"  I  don't  wonder  you  ask,  ha !  ha !  But  I  am 
compelled  to  answer  yes.  My  friend  is  a  phi 
lanthropist.  That  may  make  matters  clearer." 

"It  is  like  a  fairy  story,  isn't  it  Ike?  Let 
me  rehearse  the  conditions  again,  so  as  to  be 
sure  I  am  not  dreaming.  With  this  loan,  which 
I  shall  never  be  called  on  to  pay  back  unless 
I  choose,  I  am  tp  establish  in  New  York  the 
house  of  Francis  Prime  and  Company.  I  am  to 
devote  my  energies,  first,  to  becoming  abnor 
mally  rich ;  and  after  that  simple  result  is  ac 
complished,  to  carry  out  the  theories  I  have  as 
to  how  one  in  that  position  should  live.  Mean 
while,  I  am  to  pledge  my  word  never  to  divulge 
the  circumstances  of  this  interview,  and  on  no 
pretence  whatever  to  seek  to  discover  the  name 
of  the  person  to  whom  I  owe  my  good  fortune. 
Have  I  omitted  anything?  " 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  275 

"  You  have  stated  the  case  exactly." 

"  Humph  !  I  should  like  to  ask  a  single  ques 
tion.  Is  my  benefactor  a  man  or  a  woman?" 

"Another  question  like  that  would  justify  me 
in  withdrawing  the  offer,"  answered  Mr.  Chelm 
with  gravity.  "  My  client  wishes  to  have  no 
identity  whatever.  Come,  sir,  my  time  is 
precious.  I  await  your  decision." 

"  The  proposal  is  so  sudden  and  unexpected. 
To  ascend  in  a  twinkling  from  the  depths  of 
despair  to  the  summit  of  hope,  leaves  one  a  trifle 
bewildered.  But  you  are  right.  I  have  no 
claim  on  your  time.  You  want  an  answer." 

He  laughed  again  in  a  nervous  manner,  and 
stroked  Ike. 

"  I  do  not  wish  to  hurry  you  unduly.  I  have 
a  letter  to  write,  which  will  take  me  a  few 
minutes.  Think  the  matter  over  until  I  have 
finished." 

"  Thank  you.  I  will.  But  since  I  have 
imposed  upon  your  good  nature  so  far,  do  me 
one  more  kindness,  Mr.  Chelm.  What  is  your 
own  opinion  in  this  matter?  Do  you  advise  me 
to  accept?" 

I  listened  eagerly  for  his  reply.  It  was  in  his 
power  to  spoil  all. 

"  Really,   I  feel  embarrassed  how  to  answer. 


2J6  A  ROMANTIC    YOUNG  LADY. 

As  I  have  already  implied  to  you,  the  proposi 
tion  strikes  me,  as  a  lawyer,  as  being  the  most 
preposterous  piece  of  extravagance  I  ever  heard 
suggested.  I  will  tell  you  frankly  that  I  tried 
my  utmost  to  dissuade  my  client  from  making 
it.  It  is  thoroughly  unbusiness-like  and  absurd. 
That  is  my  view  of  the  matter  from  a  profes 
sional  standpoint." 

"  I  see,"  said  Mr.  Prime. 

"  But,"  continued  Mr.  Chelm,  —  and  here  he 
stopped  and  gave  an  amused  chuckle,  —  "  it  is 
a  rare  chance  for  a  young  man,  a  rare  chance. 
My  client  will  never  mind  the  loss  of  the  money, 
and  would  feel  genuine  disappointment,  I  know, 
if  you  were  to  decline.  This  being  the  case, 
and  feeling  as  I  do  that  you  are  in  earnest  in 
your  desire  to  succeed  despite  your  aristocratic 
tendencies,  I  am  tempted  on  the  whole  to  urge 
you  to  accept  the  good  fortune  which  is  thrust 
upon  you.  It  is  for  my  client's  sake  as  much  as 
for  your  own  that  I  advise  this,  for  I  can  see 
that  she  has  set  her  heart  — " 

He  stopped  short.  There  was  a  dead  pause, 
and  I  felt  the  blood  rush  to  my  cheeks. 

"  Well !  "  he  exclaimed,  "  I  have  let  the  cat  out 
of  the  bag  with  a  vengeance  this  time.  A  law 
yer,  too.  Pshaw  !  It  is  too  bad  !  " 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  277 

"  That  settles  it,"  said  Mr.  Prime,  quietly;  "  I 
cannot  accept  now  at  any  rate.  It  would  not 
be  fair  to  your  client." 

"Not  accept?  Of  course  you  will  accept. 
Nonsense,  nonsense !  It  is  all  my  fault,  and 
you  shall  have  the  money  now  if  I  have  to  pay 
it  out  of  my  own  pocket.  Besides,"  said  Mr. 
Chelm  with  voluble  eagerness,  "  there  is  very 
little  harm  done  after  all ;  and  to  prevent  mis 
understanding,  I  may  as  well  make  a  clean 
breast  of  it.  My  client  is  an  eccentric  maiden- 
lady  of  sixty-five,  with  a  lot  of  distant  relatives 
who  bother  her  life  out  while  waiting  for  her  to 
die.  I  am  her  only  intimate  friend,  but  even  I 
cannot  prevent  her  from  doing  all  sorts  of  queer 
things  in  her  taste  for  sentimentality.  You  see, 
poor  woman,  when  she  was  very  young  she  had 
a  lover  of  just  about  your  age  (she  wears  his 
portrait  perpetually  in  a  locket  about  her  neck), 
who  died.  He  was  in  business,  and  doing  very 
well.  Several  times  already,  on  this  account, 
she  has  helped  young  men  who  were  in  straits; 
and  when  I  told  her  your  story,  and  what  you 
were  ambitious  to  do,  she  clapped  her  withered 
old  hands  together  and  said,  '  I  will  give  him  a 
chance,  Mr.  Chclm,  I  will  give  him  a  chance  ! 
He  reminds  me  of  my  Tom.'  And  that  is  how 


278          A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

it  came  to  pass.  There  is  the  long-and-short  of 
the  matter.  Accept?  To  be  sure  you  will 
accept.  It  is  all  my  fault.  I  will  make  it  right 
with  her.  It  would  break  her  heart  if  you  did 
not.  So,  no  more  words  about  it.  I  have  all 
the  necessary  papers  ready." 

Mr.  Prime  was  patting  Ike  more  abstractedly 
than  ever.  As  for  me,  I  sat  aghast  and  over 
whelmed.  The  next  few  seconds  seemed  an 
eternity. 

"Well,  young  man?" 

"  Please  to  write  your  letter,  Mr.  Chelm,  and 
give  me  time  to  think." 

"  Not  a  bit  of  it !  The  letter  can  wait.  Say 
you  accept,  and  be  done  with  it !  " 

"  Very  well  then,  I  accept.  We  are  gentle 
men  of  fortune,  Ike,  and  you  shall  have  a  new 
silver  collar  to-morrow." 

It  is  not  necessary  to  describe  the  details  of 
the  interview  further.  An  hour  elapsed  before 
the  final  arrangements  were  made  and  Mr. 
Prime  left  the  office.  He  was  to  start  in  busi 
ness  as  soon  as  possible,  and  make  frequent 
reports  of  his  progress  to  Mr.  Chelm.  Mean 
while  I  sat  within  hearing  distance,  and  occa 
sionally  took  a  peep  at  them  from  my  coign  of 
vantage.  I  could  perceive  from  Mr.  Chelm's 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  279 

manner  that  he  was  pleased  with  the  tone  and 
alertness  of  the  other  in  putting  matters  into 
shape.  He  had  shown  me  beforehand  certain 
letters  which  he  had  received  in  answer  to  in 
quiries  made  regarding  Mr.  Prime.  In  these  he 
was  spoken  of  as  a  young  man  of  irreproachable 
character  but  strong  social  tastes,  which,  while 
consistent  with  his  own  statement  of  what  the 
world  thought  of  him,  did  not  serve  to  re-assure 
Mr.  Chelm  as  to  the  success  of  my  experiment. 
So  it  was  consoling  to  me  to  see  his  expression 
continue  benignant  as  he  listened  to  the  young 
banker's  notions. 

When  at  last  Mr.  Prime  was  gone,  I  indulged 
my  hilarity  freely  at  my  friend's  expense.  "  A 
lawyer,  too !  "  I  cried,  when  I  could  speak. 
"  Your  reputation  in  my  eyes  is  ruined  forever." 

"  I  have  no  excuse  to  offer.  It  was  a  dread 
ful  slip,  Miss  Harlan." 

"The  slip  was  unpardonable  of  course;  but 
it  was  an  accident.  No,  what  I  refer  to,  Mr. 
Chelm,  is  the  marvellous  invention  by  which 
you  sought  to  conceal  it.  I  fully  expected  to 
see  the  floor  open,  and  some  demon  carry  you 
off  amid  smoke  and  sulphur." 

"  I  never  stick  at  a  trifle  like  that,"  laughed 
he.  "But  didn't  I  do  the  thing  well?  He 


280  A   ROMANTIC    YOUNG  LADY. 

believed  every  word  of  it.  And  what  is  more, 
Miss  Harlan,"  he  added  seriously,  "  it  would 
have  been  a  great  pity  to  have  let  him  decline. 
He  is  a  likely  young  fellow.  I  smell  wedding- 
cake  in  the  air  already." 

"  You  forget,  Mr.  Chelm,"  I  answered,  "  that  I 
am  an  eccentric  maiden-lady  of  sixty-five.  You 
have  ruined  any  material  there  may  have  been 
out  of  which  to  manufacture  a  romance." 

This  turn  of  affairs  took  place  a  few  days 
before  the  unpleasant,  scene  with  Aunt  Agnes 
occurred,  to  which  I  have  alluded,  and  I  found 
that  it  absorbed  my  thoughts  and  tended  to 
counteract  the  despondency  produced  by  her 
displeasure  and  the  injustice  of  her  friends.  All 
through  the  remainder  of  the  season  I  awaited 
with  eagerness  the  monthly  reports  sent  by 
Mr.  Prime.  He  was  established,  and  cautiously 
feeling  his  way.  But  necessarily  there  was  little 
to  tell ;  a  fortune  cannot  be  made  in  a  minute. 
However,  I  cherished  every  word  of  encourage 
ment  as  so  much  vindication  of  my  faith ;  and  I 
came  by  degrees  to  feel  as  though  Mr.  Prime's 
new  enterprise  were  my  own  business,  and  that 
my  reputation  for  sagacity  were  dependent  upon 
his  success. 


A   ROMANTIC   YOU  NO  LADY.  28 1 

And  yet,  as  I  have  already  implied,  Mr. 
Prime  was  nothing  to  me  except  so  far  as  he 
represented  an  instrument  of  my  will.  It  was 
not  in  him  that  I  was  interested  half  so  much  as 
in  myself.  In  order  to  satisfy  my  curiosity,  I 
even  planned  in  the  spring  a  trip  to  New  York 
with  Aunt  Helen,  and  delighted  my  eyes  with  a 
glimpse  of  the  sign-board  over  the  spacious  offi 
ces  of  Francis  Prime  and  Company.  But  on  that 
day  it  was  veritably  a  glimpse  that  I  got,  for  I  was 
too  timid  to  take  a  deliberate  scrutiny  of  what  I 
had  come  to  see,  owing  to  the  fact  that  every 
one  I  met  stared  at  me ;  and  then  too  I  was  mo 
mentarily  upset  by  perceiving  over  the  way  just 
opposite,  in  great  gilt  letters,  the  rival  sign,  as  it 
seemed  to  me,  of  "  Roger  Dale,  Banker  and 
Broker."  Mr.  Dale  I  had  not  seen  for  several 
years,  but  I  knew  that  he  was  living  in  New 
York,  where  he  had  not  long  before  married  an 
heiress  of  obscure  antecedents,  according  to 
rumor.  That  it  was  he  I  had  little  doubt;  and 
though  the  fact  of  his  having  an  office  in  the 
same  street  could  not  of  course  affect,  either 
for  evil  or  otherwise,  the  interests  of  my  protege", 
I  had  an  indefinable  feeling  of  dread  at  perceiving 
they  were  so  near  to  one  another.  It  was  there 
fore  doubly  necessary  for  me  to  be  careful  in  my 


282  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

subsequent  expeditions  down-town,  not  only  to 
dress  in  such  a  quiet  unfashionable  manner  as 
not  to  attract  the  attention  of  passers,  but  so  as 
to  escape  recognition  from  my  former  admirer.  • 
After  the  first  impression  of  unpleasantness  I 
felt  a  little  added  zest  on  account  of  this  element 
of  risk,  especially  when  on  inquiry  I  learned 
that  Roger  Dale  was  rated  as  one  of  the  most 
successful  and  enterprising  of  the  younger  bank 
ing  firms  in  the  city.  I  saw  his  advertisements 
in  the  newspapers,  and  gathered  from  current 
talk  that  he  was  doing  a  large  and  lucrative 
business.  I  was  glad  to  know  that  he  was  happy 
and  prosperous  at  last,  for  he  had  failed  once 
before  leaving  home,  though  I  never  heard  of  it 
until  a  long  while  after;  and  under  the  influence 
of  this  mood  any  vestige  of  ill-will  that  may  have 
been  lurking  in  my  mind  died  away,  and  I  came 
to  regard  the  rival  sign  with  perfect  equanimity 
from  behind  the  thick  veil  by  which  I  concealed 
my  features.  Instigated  by  a  spirit  of  caution  to 
make  my  disguise  as  complete  as  possible,  I 
purchased  at  a  cheap  clothing-store  some  gar 
ments  that  did  much  towards  rendering  my  per 
sonal  appearance  the  very  opposite  of  stylish. 
I  even  tried  to  give  them  a  soiled  and  worn 
aspect,  by  means  of  experiments  at  home,  so 


A    ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  283 

that  I  might  pass  for  a  female  clerk  or  needy 
bushel-woman,  and  be  free  to  pursue  my  inves 
tigations  unobserved.  In  this  guise  I  spent  a 
number  of  days  in  wandering  about  the  business 
streets  of  the  city,  attentive  not  only  to  what 
went  on  in  the  offices  of  Francis  Prime  and  Com 
pany  and  Roger  Dale,  but  to  the  countless  sights 
and  sounds  of  bustling  trade,  which  I  experienced 
now  for  the  first  time.  At  first  I  did  not  dare  to 
appear  too  frequently  in  the  street  which  was  the 
centre  of  my  interest,  but  a  dangerous  fascination 
led  me  to  become  bolder  and  more  adventurous 
as  I  became  familiar  with  the  surroundings. 
From  under  the  obscurity  of  arches  and  from 
behind  pillars  I  noted  daily  who  entered  the 
doors  of  the  new  firm,  and  endeavored  to  get  an 
idea  of  the  amount  of  business  that  it  transacted. 
In  this  respect  I  was  somewhat  disappointed,  for 
although  customers  were  by  no  means  lacking, 
there  was  a  dearth  of  patronage  as  compared 
with  that  enjoyed  by  the  banking-house  across 
the  street.  During  the  morning  hours  there  was 
an  incessant  stream  of  people  coming  and  going 
up  and  down  the  marble  steps  of  the  great  build 
ing  on  the  first  floor  of  which  were  the  offices  of 
Roger  Dale ;  and  by  far  the  larger  proportion  of 
this  number  went  no  farther,  for  I  could  see  them 


284  A    ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

through  the  broad  plate-glass  windows,  chatting 
and  grouped  about  a  coil  of  tape  that  ran  out 
with  a  snake-like  movement  into  a  basket  on  the 
floor.  There  were  ladies  too  who  drove  up  to 
the  door  in  their  carriages  and  were  shown  into 
the  back  office,  and  who  when  they  came  out 
again  were  attended  by  Mr.  Dale  himself,  bow 
ing  obsequiously.  He  was  stouter  than  when  I 
saw  him  last,  and  quite  bald ;  and  he  had  a  dif 
ferent  suit  of  a  prominent  check-pattern  for 
every  day  in  the  week.  He  seemed  immensely 
popular  with  his  customers,  and  was  slapped  by 
them  on  the  back  incessantly,  and  most  of  them 
he  slapped  back  in  return.  But  toward  certain 
individuals  he  adopted  a  quite  different  style  of 
behavior ;  for  he  listened  to  what  they  said  with 
deference,  gave  them  the  most  comfortable  seat 
in  the  office,  and  opened  the  door  for  them  when 
they  went  away.  These  I  judged  to  be  capital 
ists  and  men  of  influence,  whose  business  he 
wished  to  secure.  Some  of  them  never  came 
again,  but  others  would  return  in  the  afternoon 
and  be  closeted  with  him  for  hours. 

To  all  this  I  could  not  help  giving  attention, 
for  it  was  forced  on  me,  as  I  have  indicated,  by 
way  of  contrast  to  the  style  of  business  that  was 
done  by  the  firm  to  which  my  faith  was  pinned. 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  285 

Indeed  I  felt  badly  sometimes,  and  wondered  if 
it  could  be  that  my  hero  were  lacking  in  enter 
prise  and  what  the  world  calls  "push."  But  as  I 
observed  more  closely,  I  dismissed  this  suspicion 
as  unjust;  for  I  began  to  note  that  one  or  two  of 
the  grave,  important-looking  men  whom  Roger 
Dale  treated  with  so  much  suavity,  were  much 
more  frequent  visitors  over  the  way.  Besides, 
the  plate-glass  windows  were  very  small,  and  it 
was  next  to  impossible  to  see  what  went  on  in 
side.  Mr.  Prime  always  stayed  at  his  office  until 
nearly  six  o'clock,  and  once  or  twice  he  was 
still  at  work  at  his  desk  when  the  darkness 
drove  me  home.  In  these  afternoon  hours  the 
street  was  nearly  deserted,  and  sometimes  I 
ventured  close  up  to  the  window  and  peered 
through.  I  could  see  him  in  a  little  inner  office, 
writing  and  poring  over  papers  and  accounts. 
Once  while  I  was  thus  occupied,  a  policeman 
greatly  alarmed  me  by  tapping  me  on  the 
shoulder  and  observing  roughly,  "  Now  then, 
young  woman,  move  on." 

After  this  I  felt  the  necessity  of  using  more 
discretion ;  and  lest  this  narration  may  prejudice 
the  judicious  too  strongly  against  me,  let  it  be 
said  that  I  passed  in  all  only  some  eight  or  ten 
days  in  this  manner  during  the  six  weeks  Aunt 


286  A    ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

Helen  and  I  were  in  New  York  together.  Per 
haps,  however,  this  was  due  somewhat  to  the 
difficulty  I  found  in  evading  her  eagle  eye,  for 
owing  to  the  necessary  changes  in  my  dress  I 
had  to  invent  some  excuse  commensurate  with 
such  a  dilapidated  appearance.  As  excursions 
among  the  poor  twice  a  week  could  not  seem 
improbable,  I  let  them  account  for  the  plain 
stuff-gown  and  unfashionable  hat  that  I  wore  on 
the  occasion  of  my  down-town  visits,  and  limited 
myself  accordingly.  Aunt  Helen  really  shed 
tears  at  first  because  I  looked  so  like  a  guy;  but 
when  I  represented  to  her  that  it  would  be  cruel 
to  flaunt  silks  and  satins  in  the  faces  of  those  to 
whom  such  luxuries  were  forbidden,  to  say  noth 
ing  of  the  risk  one  ran  of  being  insulted  if  gaudily 
attired,  she  withdrew  her  objections.  "  But  only 
think,"  said  she,  "  if  any  of  your  acquaintances 
should  see  you  rigged  out  like  that !  It  could 
not  fail  to  strike  the  Honorable  Ernest  Ferroll 
as  exceedingly  peculiar  at  the  best." 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.          287 


IV. 


A  LTHOUGH  I  had  striven  to  keep  our  visit 
*»  to  New  York  a  secret,  it  was  hardly  to  be 
expected,  in  view  of  my  quasi  celebrity  at 
home  as  a  society  character,  coupled  with  my 
Aunt's  eagerness  for  amusement,  that  our  pres 
ence  would  long  escape  detection.  As  a  fact, 
before  the  end  of  the  first  week  we  were  inun 
dated  with  invitations,  many  of  which  it  was 
impossible  to  decline ;  and  I  finally  gave  up  the 
struggle,  and  suffered  myself  to  become  a  facile 
tool  in  the  hands  of  my  friends  after  night-fall, 
reserving  merely  the  day-time  for  my  financial 
investigations.  I  was  the  more  willing  to  submit 
to  this  social  demand,  because  I  had  a  hope  that 
I  might  meet  with  Mr.  Prime  at  some  of  the 
houses  to  which  we  were  asked.  But  though  I 
constantly  recognized,  with  a  sense  of  danger 
that  was  yet  delicious,  faces  that  I  had  become 
familiar  with  down-town,  his  was  never  among 
them.  I  made  no  inquiries,  but  the  mystery  of 
his  absence  was  finally  explained. 


288          A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

"  Miss  Harlan,"  said  my  hostess  to  me  at  a 
brilliant  dinner-party,  "  I  had  hoped  to  be  able 
to  present  to  you  this  evening  my  friend  Mr. 
Francis  Prime,  who  is  altogether  charming;  but 
he  writes  me  that  he  is  not  going  anywhere  this 
winter :  he  has  in  fact  given  himself  up  for  the 
time  being  to  business,  and  cannot  break  his 
rule  even  for  me.  Everybody  is  laughing  over 
the  idea  of  his  doing  anything  except  make 
himself  agreeable.  As  he  is  n't  here,  let  me  tell 
you  he  is  the  worst  flirt  in  town ;  and  we  all 
rather  hope  he  won't  succeed,  for  he  fills  his 
niche  to  perfection,  —  which  is  paying  him  a  high 
compliment,  I  think.  But  there  are  other  attrac 
tive  men  in  the  world  besides  Mr.  Prime,  and  I 
am  going  to  ask  you,  by  and  by,  to  tell  me  your 
opinion  of  our  new  Englishman,  who  is  to  take 
you  in  to  dinner.  He  is  only  the  Honorable 
Ernest  Ferroll  at  present,  but  when  his  uncle 
dies  he  will  be  Duke  of  Clyde,  my  dear,  and  on 
dit  he  is  looking  for  a  wife." 

I  found  the  Honorable  Ernest  decidedly 
agreeable.  He  had  a  fine  figure,  was  six  feet 
high,  with  blue  eyes  and  a  luxuriant  chestnut 
beard.  In  his  thirty  years  he  had  lived  and 
travelled  everywhere,  reserving  the  States,  as  he 
called  them,  for  a  final  jaunt  preparatory  to 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.          289 

settling  down.  He  was  making  merely  a  flying 
trip  through  the  sea-board  cities  after  a  prelimi 
nary  canter  at  Newport,  previous  to  doing  Cali 
fornia  and  some  big  hunting  in  the  "  Rockies;" 
but  later  he  intended  to  return  and  spend  a  sea 
son  in  New  York  and  Boston  society.  His  name 
was,  for  the  moment,  on  every  one's  lips,  and  there 
was  much  quiet  maternal  inquiry  as  to  how  long 
the  old  peer  was  likely  to  last ;  for  the  Honorable 
Ernest  was  said  to  be  rather  short  of  money. 

"  He  has  a  fine  forehead,  and  if  one  likes 
beards,  his  is  certainly  a  handsome  specimen," 
said  Aunt  Helen  ruminantly,  as  we  were  driving 
home.  "  I  have  no  fancy  for  them  myself,  but 
it  is  always  possible  to  shave  them  off;  that's 
one  comfort." 

I  divined  of  whom  she  was  speaking,  but 
made  no  response. 

"  How  did  you  like  him,  Virginia?" 

"Mr.  Ferroll?  I  found  him  very  entertain 
ing,"  I  replied. 

"  I  thought  he  seemed  decidedly  impressed 
by  you.  He  scarcely  kept  his  eyes  off  you  all 
through  dinner.  I  don't  blame  him,  for  you 
were  looking  your  best.  Duchess  of  Clyde ! 
You  might  do  worse,  Virginia.  They  say  he  is 
anxious  to  marry." 

19 


290          A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

"  So  Mrs.  Tremaine  informed  me." 

"Did  she  really?  That  was  very  amiable  of 
her,  especially  as  you  are  a  stranger,  and  there 
must  be  plenty  of  girls  in  whom  she  is  inter 
ested,  who  are  setting  their  caps  for  him.  I 
could  not  help  thinking  at  dinner  what  a  hand 
some  pair  you  would  make." 

"  One  would  suppose  you  were  in  earnest 
from  your  serious  tone,  Aunt  Helen." 

"  And  so  I  am,  so  I  am,  quite  in  earnest.  Of 
course  I  should  wish  to  know  a  little  more  defi 
nitely  about  him  before  anything  final  was 
arranged.  But  from  what  I  hear,  there  can  be 
no  question  in  regard  to  his  title.  If  there  were 
the  slightest  suspicion  of  anything  out  of  the 
way  concerning  it,  he  would  never  have  been 
at  Mrs.  Tremaine's,  who  is  a  very  particular 
woman,  and  knows  what  she  knows.  He  seems, 
so  far  as  I  could  judge,  to  be  a  manly,  right- 
minded  young  man.  He  told  me  that  he  shot 
three  tigers  in  India,  and  I  observed  that  he 
took  scarcely  any  wine  at  dinner.  It  won't  do 
though,  Virginia,  to  dilly-dally,  for  I  am  given 
to  understand  that  he  leaves  in  a  fortnight  for 
California,  to  explore  the  West.  But  he  is  com 
ing  back  to  spend  several  months  next  winter, 
and  if  you  do  not  throw  cold  water  on  him  now, 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  2gi 

he  may  feel  disposed  to  run  on  to  Boston,  in 
spite  of  the  efforts  that  will  be  made  to  keep 
him  here.'' 

"  I  feel  very  certain,"  said  I,  "  that  he  will 
come  to  Boston  for  a  few  days,  as  he  has  letters 
to  Aunt  Agnes." 

14  To  your  Aunt  Agnes?  What  do  you 
mean,  child?"  In  her  astonishment  I  thought 
she  was  going  to  bounce  out  of  the  carriage. 

"  I  don't  wonder  you  are  surprised.  Yes,  the 
first  question  he  asked  was  if  I  were  not  the 
niece  of  Miss  Agnes  Harlan,  of  Boston.  It 
seems  that  she  and  his  father  made  an  ocean 
passage  together  a  great  many  years  ago,  when 
they  were  both  young,  and  the  acquaintance  has 
been  kept  up  by  correspondence  ever  since." 

"  Mercy  on  us  !  Your  Aunt  Agnes  has  never 
said  a  word  to  me  about  it." 

"  The  Honorable  Ernest's  father  is  quite  lit 
erary,  and  has  written  one  or  two  books  on  phi 
losophy,  his  son  says." 

"  That  accounts  for  it,  of  course.  Well,  well ! 
to  think  of  your  Aunt  Agnes  being  intimate 
with  one  of  the  nobility,  and  having  never  men 
tioned  the  subject !  I  have  always  given  her 
credit  for  being  an  agreeable  woman  at  bottom, 
if  one  could  only  forget  her  eccentricities.  But 


292          A   ROMANTIC    YOUNG  LADY. 

this  is  extremely  fortunate  for  you,  Virginia. 
To  be  sure,  there  is  no  knowing  how  your  Aunt 
will  receive  him,  she  is  so  hostile  to  every  one 
who  is  not  as  queer  as  herself.  But  she  must 
see,  if  she  is  not  a  fool,  what  a  very  advanta 
geous  match  this  would  be  for  you.  It  could  do 
no  harm  just  to  drop  Mr.  Ferroll  a  hint  to  humor 
her  a  little,  and  seem  fond  of  serious  subjects 
at  the  start,  for  if  she  should  happen  to  take  it 
into  her  head  to  ask  him  to  stay  at  her  house 
it  would  be  very  convenient." 

These  sentiments  were  frequently  reiterated 
by  Aunt  Helen  during  the  remaining  weeks  of 
our  visit,  and  it  must  be  allowed  that  the  atten 
tions  of  the  Honorable  Ernest  soon  justified  her 
urgency,  seeing  that  she  really  believed  it  was  a 
matter  of  vital  importance  for  me  to  become  the 
future  Duchess  of  Clyde.  Nor  was  I  at  all  sure 
myself,  that  if  nothing  else  turned  up  I  might 
not  be  tempted  by  the  brilliancy  of  such  a  posi 
tion.  Not  that  I  thought  about  it  quite  so  defi 
nitely;  but  I  was  conscious  of  the  exceptional 
advantages  incident  to  high  rank  in  England,  to 
the  extent  that  I  did  not  treat  his  gallantries 
with  marked  indifference.  I  let  him  reveal 
himself  for  what  he  was,  which  is  not  possible 
without  a  certain  degree  of  intimacy.  Beneath 


A    ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  293 

his  conventional  ways  I  discovered  a  great  deal 
of  energy  and  decision.  He  was  well-read,  and 
had  his  own  opinions.  On  many  of  the  days 
when  I  did  not  go  down-town,  I  took  strolls  with 
him  in  the  Park  and  elsewhere.  We  discussed 
all  sorts  and  kinds  of  subjects.  We  did  not 
often  agree,  but  that  rather  added  to  the  interest 
of  our  intercourse  than  otherwise.  I  was  a  curi 
osity  to  him,  he  said.  He  complained  that  I  was 
too  radical  and  visionary  in  my  ideas,  and  that  I 
was  quite  different  from  his  conception  of  Ameri 
can  girls.  To  be  sure,  he  said,  I  was  ready  to 
do  things,  —  that  is,  go  to  walk  with  him,  and 
banish  Aunt  Helen  when  he  called;  but  he  had 
been  told  that  American  girls  knew  nothing 
about  politics  or  any  serious  matters,  and  were 
principally  interested  in  the  study  of  their  inner 
consciousness  as  affected  by  man  ;  whereas  I  was 
perpetually  taking  issue  with  him  on  questions  of 
government  policy  and  pauperism,  driving  him 
into  holes  in  regard  to  the  value  of  an  hereditary 
nobility  and  the  dis-establishmcnt  of  the  English 
Church.  Women  at  home  were  not  like  that,  he 
said.  The  men  told  them  what  to  believe,  and 
they  stuck  to  it  through  thick  and  thin  ;  but  vol 
untary  feminine  ratiocination  was  the  rarest  thing 
in  the  world  among  his  countrywomen.  As  for 


294          A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

himself,  he  was  a  conservative,  —  a  conservative 
without  money.  Money  was  all  he  needed  to 
build  up  the  splendid  estates  of  Clyde,  which  had 
been  slowly  decaying  for  this  lack  during  two  gen 
erations.  His  chief  ambition  was  to  retouch  and 
refurbish  the  broad  domain  of  his  inheritance,  so 
that  its  lordly  manors,  ivy-mantled  abbeys,  and 
green  meadows  might  know  again  the  peace,  po 
etry,  and  prosperity  of  an  ideal  English  home. 
There  would  then  for  the  lord  of  Clyde  be  happi 
ness  and  romance  equalled  by  none  on  earth.  For, 
eager  to  benefit  his  fellow-men,  he  would  have 
within  the  radius  of  his  own  estate  a  hundred 
cabins  to  call  in  play  his  invention  or  humanity; 
and  with  one's  conscience  at  rest,  he  said,  could 
there  be  a  purer  joy  than  to  wander  with  her  of 
one's  choice  under  the  ancestral  elms  of  old 
England,  with  the  September  moon  o'erhead? 

This  was  the  Honorable  Ernest's  dream ;  but 
to  realize  it,  he  must  make  money.  He  had 
come  to  the  States,  so  he  told  me  when  we  grew 
more  intimate,  in  order  to  seek  it.  There  were 
great  chances  in  the  far  West  for  a  shrewd  man 
with  a  little  capital,  and  to  find  some  investment 
that  promised  large  returns  was  the  real  object  of 
his  journey  thither.  Already,  even  since  his  arri 
val  in  New  York,  he  had  done  extremely  well. 


A   ROMANTIC    YOUNG  LADY.  295 

There  was  a  smart  (so  he  had  heard  him 
called)  young  fellow  who  had  put  him  into  seve 
ral  profitable  speculations :  very  likely  I  might 
know  him,  —  Roger  Dale  was  his  name ;  every 
one  said  he  had  made  a  lot  of  money,  and  was 
one  of  the  coming  men  of  Wall  Street.  I  was 
kindly  to  consider  this  as  a  confidence,  for  he 
did  not  care  to  have  it  noised  about  that  he  was 
other  than  an  idler  here. 

The  Honorable  Ernest  Ferroll's  attentions, 
as  I  have  implied,  grew  apace  from  the  evening 
of  our  introduction,  and  soon  attracted  remark. 
There  was  an  instant  recognition  of  the  fitness 
of  the  match  even  from  the  most  envious,  and 
Aunt  Helen  was  the  recipient  of  numerous  con 
gratulatory  innuendoes.  The  circumstance  of 
his  delaying  the  date  of  his  journey  a  week  con 
firmed  the  general  impression  of  his  serious 
views,  and  even  I  began  to  feel  some  pangs  of 
conscience  on  the  score  of  allowing  him  to  fancy 
that  if  he  did  come  to  the  point  I  should  accept 
him  eagerly.  In  contemplation  of  this  emer 
gency  I  felt  that  it  was  time  for  me  to  go 
home.  We  both  would  then  have  six  months  in 
which  to  think  it  over.  When  he  should  return 
from  the  West,  it  would  be  time  enough  for  me 
to  come  to  a  decision  as  to  whether  I  desired 


296  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY, 

to  re-gild  the  poetry  of  his  English  home.  I 
was  certain  that  if  he  insisted  on  an  immediate 
answer  my  reply  would  be  unfavorable.  But 
I  much  preferred  to  defer  any  definite  proposal ; 
and  accordingly,  with  all  the  tact  at  my  com 
mand,  I  tried  to  avoid  giving  him  an  opportu 
nity  of  being  left  alone  with  me  for  any  length 
of  time,  without  making  it  noticeable  to  him. 
Finally,  as  he  seemed  likely  to  become  unman 
ageable  despite  my  precautions,  and  as  he  put 
off  again  and  again  his  day  of  departure,  I 
resolved  to  take  refuge  in  flight. 

When  I  communicated  this  to  Aunt  Helen 
she  said  I  was  crazy.  The  idea  of  returning 
home  just  on  the  eve  of  realization  seemed  to 
her  preposterous;  she  would  not  hear  of  it. 
But  I  was  equally  firm,  and  announced  my 
intention  of  leaving  on  the  morrow. 

But  before  I  went,  I  wished  to  have  one  more 
glimpse  of  the  condition  of  the  banking-house  of 
Francis  Prime  and  Company;  and  in  order  to 
make  my  scrutiny  as  thorough  as  possible  I 
planned  not  to  return  until  dark.  I  was  curious 
to  get  a  close  look  at  my  hero,  and  this  seemed 
most  feasible  when  he  was  leaving  the  office  for 
the  day.  At  that  time  there  would  be  little  like 
lihood  of  any  one  noticing  me,  if  I  stood  by  the 
door  as  he  came  out. 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.          297 

The  afternoon  passed  without  incident,  save 
that  I  saw  the  Honorable  Ernest  Ferroll  go  into 
Mr.  Dale's  office,  where  he  remained  some  time. 
He  happened  to  meet  me  face  to  face  on  the 
street,  but  I  justly  had  acquired  by  this  time 
complete  faith  in  my  disguise.  He  betrayed 
no  sign  of  recognition,  and  the  flush  that  rose 
to  my  cheeks  was  a  badge  of  quite  unnecessary 
alarm.  The  hours  slipped  by,  and  the  street 
grew  still.  The  gas  was  lighted  in  the  inner 
offices,  and  few  but  clerks,  figuring  up  the  profits 
or  losses  of  the  day,  were  left  down-town.  It 
was  getting  dark,  and  I  was  growing  impatient. 
I  sat  down  in  the  door-way  of  the  building 
next  adjoining,  to  rest.  I  had  purposely  made 
myself  look  as  dilapidated  as  possible,  and 
the  natural  presumption  in  the  mind  of  any  one 
would  have  been  that  I  was  friendless  and  needy, 
for  I  felt  tired  enough  to  make  a  weary  air  very 
natural  at  the  moment. 

As  it  chanced,  my  old  enemy  the  police 
man  came  sauntering  by,  and  his  cold  eye  fell 
on  me  with  a  chilling  scrutiny.  He  stopped 
and  said :  — 

"  Did  n't  I  tell  you  to  move  on,  young  woman? 
We  don't  want  the  likes  of  you  loafing  about 
here." 


298  A    ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

"  I  am  tired  and  resting.  I  am  waiting  for 
some  one,"  I  answered,  too  much  alarmed  to 
take  much  account  of  my  words. 

"  Yes,  I  dare  say.  He  's  forgotten  to  keep  his 
engagement,  and  has  gone  home  for  the  day. 
He  asked  me  himself  to  tell  you  so.  Come, 
move  on,  and  don't  let  me  see  you  hanging 
around  any  more,  or  I  '11  find  an  engagement  for 
you  that  will  last  sixty  days.  Come,  march  !  " 

"  Sir !  "  I  exclaimed  in  a  tone  of  indignation, 
having  partially  recovered  my  presence  of  mind, 
"what  right  have  you  to  insult  a  lady?  I  tell 
you  I  have  business  here.  If  you  don't  in 
stantly  leave  me,  I  will  have  you  discharged 
to-morrow !  " 

"  Do,  my  beauty !  and  lest  you  should  over 
sleep  yourself  in  the  morning,  and  not  be  on 
hand  to  keep  your  word,  come  with  me  now." 

He  reached  out  his  hand  to  seize  me  by  the 
arm,  and  all  my  fears  returned.  But  at  that  in 
stant  I  heard  a  voice,  and  to  my  mingled  relief 
and  consternation  the  face  of  Francis  Prime 
appeared  over  my  tormentor's  shoulder. 

"  What  is  the  matter,  officer?  " 

"  Nothing,  your  honor,  except  this  here 
young  woman.  She  's  for  reporting  me,  she  is, 
and  losing  me  my  situation.  But  as  I  happen 


A    ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  299 

to  have  seen  her  congregating  by  herself  mostly 
every  day  for  the  past  fortnight  around  these 
offices,  I  thought  I  'd  run  her  in  as  a  disrepu 
table  lot,  and  we  'd  see  who  's  who." 

41  Oh,  sir  !  —  Mr.  Prime  !  "  I  cried,  forgetting 
my  discretion  in  the  excitement  of  the  moment, 
"don't  let  him  take  me  off!  What  he.  says 
isn't  true.  I 'm  a  lady  —  that  is,  a  poor  girl 
who  's  perfectly  honest,  and  is  trying  to  earn 
her  living." 

"  A  nice  lady  you  are,  trying  to  lose  hard 
working  folks  their  situations  !  " 

"  You  called  me  by  name,"  said  Mr.  Prime. 
"Do  you  know  me?  Come  here  Ike!"  The 
dog  was  sniffing  around  my  feet. 

"Yes,  sir — no — that  is,  I  have  seen  you 
come  out  of  your  office." 

He  looked  at  me  searchingly,  and  turned  to 
the  policeman.  "  What  was  she  doing  when 
you  arrested  her?" 

"  Indeed,  sir,"  I  broke  in,  "  I  was  merely  sit 
ting  here  resting  myself,  when  this  —  this  man 
spoke  to  me.  I  was  doing  nothing  wrong." 

"  You  hear  what  she  says,  officer.  What  is 
your  charge  against  her?" 

"  Promiscuous  and  unlawful  congregating  by 
herself,  your  Honor.  When  a  young  woman 


300          A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

as  swears  she  's  honest,  goes  peeking  into  other 
folks's  windows  after  dark,  I  always  has  my  sus 
picions,  —  as  you  would  too,  if  you  had  been  in 
the  business  as  long  as  I  have.  It  wa'n't  more 
than  a  week  ago  that  I  caught  her  with  her 
nose  against  that  plate-glass  window  of  yours, 
and  I  told  her  then  to  move  on.  But  she  did  n't ; 
and  the  next  thing  we  shall  be  hearing  some 
fine  morning,  that  there 's  been  breaking  and 
entering  done." 

Frightened  as  I  was,  I  could  not  help  blushing. 

"Why  were  you  looking  into  my  office?" 
said  Mr.  Prime.  "  It  does  n't  seem  a  very  serious 
offence,"  he  added,  turning  to  the  officer. 

"  It  ain't  murder,  and  it  ain't  arson,  that 's 
flat,"  observed  that  functionary;  "but  we  don't 
draw  no  such  fine  distinctions  in  our  profession. 
If  we  did,  the  judges  would  have  nothing  to  do." 

The  colloquy  gave  me  time  to  think  up  an 
answer.  I  was  in  a  tight  place,  and  it  would 
not  do  to  mince  matters.  Mr.  Prime  turned 
back  to  me  with  an  air  of  inquiry. 

"  I  was  wondering,  sir,  when  I  looked  into 
your  window,  if  there  were  any  use  in  my  ap 
plying  for  work." 

"  Are  you  in  want?  "  he  asked. 

"  I  am  trying  to  find  a  place.     I  am  without 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY,          3<DI 

occupation  at  present.  The  times  are  so  hard 
it  is  almost  impossible  for  an  honest  girl  to  find 
anything  to  do.  I  only  want  a  chance." 

He  looked  at  me  with  a  closer  interest.  Of 
course  my  voice  and  my  features,  after  the  first  im 
pression  produced  by  my  needy  dress,  must  have 
puzzled  an  observer  so  intelligent  as  Mr.  Prime. 

"  I  believe  the  girl's  story,"  he  said  to  the 
policeman.  "  I  feel  sure  she  is  honest." 

The  man  shrugged  his  shoulders.  "  A  moment 
ago  it  was  she  was  a  lady,  and  waiting  for  some 
body.  But  I  ain't  particular,  if  you  are  ready  to 
go  bail  for  the  young  woman.  Of  course  I  'm 
only  doing  my  duty ;  and  if  you  are  satisfied, 
your  Honor,  don't  blame  me  if  you  find  your 
watch  missing  before  you  get  home.  I  always 
keep  a  pair  of  twisters  alongside  of  mine ;  and 
that's  why  I  thought  she  might  be  safer  with 
me  than  with  you." 

With  this  oracular  utterance,  the  official 
turned  on  his  heel  and  departed,  to  my  intense 
relief.  I  was  fairly  overcome  with  dread  and 
mortification,  and  my  eyes  fell  under  the  inter 
ested  look  of  my  rescuer. 

"You  seem  distressed  and  tired,  poor  girl. 
This  street  is  no  place  for  you  at  such  an  hour. 
You  say  you  are  in  search  of  work?  " 


302          A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  I  answered  faintly. 

"  Humph  !     Can  you  write?  " 

"  Oh,  yes,  sir." 

"  Come  to  my  office  then,  to-morrow  morning, 
and  I  may  be  able  to  find  something  for  you  to  do. 
And  now  go  home  as  fast  as  you  can.  Stop, 
here  is  a  trifle  for  your  fare.  Good-night." 

He  raised  his  hat  in  recognition  of  the  grate 
ful  glance  from  my  eyes.  My  cheeks  had  felt 
like  live  coals  as  I  took  the  coin  he  held  out 
to  me.  But  I  chose  to  continue  the  deception. 
It  was  harmless;  and  to  disclose  the  fact  that 
I  was  other  than  I  seemed  would  only  make 
matters  worse.  There  was  too,  even  while  he 
was  still  present,  an  element  of  amusement  to  me 
in  the  whole  affair,  which  when  he  was  gone, 
and  I  knew  that  I  was  out  of  danger,  speedily 
became  predominant  in  my  mind.  Here  was  an 
opportunity  sent  by  Providence  to  supervise  my 
banking  scheme  without  risk  of  discovery,  if  only 
I  had  the  courage  to  take  advantage  of  it.  The 
idea  pleased  me  the  more  I  thought  it  over, 
for  I  had  little  doubt  that  Mr.  Prime  intended 
to  find  employment  for  me  in  his  own  office. 
I  felt  that  it  would  amuse  me  immensely  to 
become  a  female  clerk  for  a  few  weeks  and 
see  the  practical  working  of  a  business  house, 


A    ROMANTIC    YOUNG  LADY.  303 

and  above  all  others  of  this  particular  one.  I 
felt  sure  that  I  could  prove  myself  tolerably  use 
ful  as  well,  thanks  to  my  experience  under  Mr. 
Chelm ;  and  there  was  no  knowing  what  might 
come  of  it  all  if  I  should  develop  a  taste  for 
banking.  The  world's  opinion  to  the  contrary 
notwithstanding,  I  might  take  it  into  my  head 
to  reveal  my  identity,  and  become  an  active 
partner  in  the  concern. 

Even  to  such  extremes  did  my  imagination 
carry  me  before  I  reached  home.  But  I  was 
clear  in  my  mind  about  one  thing.  I  meant  to 
present  myself  at  the  office  in  the  morning,  and 
if  the  chance  were  given  me,  to  apprentice  myself 
for  a  while.  It  was  indeed  a  strange  freak  of 
destiny,  that  he  should  have  been  confronted 
by  me  with  the  same  appeal  that  I  had  heard 
him  make  so  short  a  time  ago.  Perhaps  it 
were  better  called  a  strange  freak  of  my  caprice, 
for  though  of  course  my  position  was  not  pre 
meditated,  the  words  that  I  said  to  him  were 
necessarily  suggested  by  the  analogy  of  the 
situation.  I  felt  therefore  an  obligation  to  let  his 
humanity  work  itself  out,  —  which  gave  comfort 
and  encouragement  to  my  quixotism. 

The  only  obstacles  of  serious  importance  to 
this  step  would  be  the  difficulty  of  disposing 


304  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

of  Aunt  Helen,  and  as  a  corollary  thereto  the 
necessity  of  some  slight  deceit  on  my  part  to 
account  for  my  continuance  in  New  York.  But 
having  gone  so  far  in  the  matter,  I  did  not  suf 
fer  myself  to  be  deterred  by  trifles.  I  had, 
in  speaking  of  our  return  to  Aunt  Helen  this 
morning,  dwelt  on  the  importance  of  not  leav 
ing  certain  domestic  affairs  longer  unattended 
to ;  and  it  now  occurred  to  me  to  compromise 
with  her  by  suggesting  that  she  should  go 
home,  and  leave  me  with  my  maid  in  our  lodg 
ings,  which  were  well  known  to  her  as  thor 
oughly  quiet  and  respectable.  As  was  perhaps 
to  be  expected,  she  resisted  this  proposal  ener 
getically;  but  as  I  was  resolved  to  get  rid  of  her 
at  any  cost,  I  took  an  obstinate  stand,  against 
which  tears  and  flattery  were  equally  unavailing. 
I  made  her  return  a  condition  of  my  remaining; 
otherwise  I  should  leave  the  Honorable  Ernest 
to  the  mercy  of  the  maidens  of  New  York. 
She  must  take  her  choice.  If  she  decided  to 
stay  I  should  go  home ;  and  the  only  possible 
chance  of  my  becoming  Duchess  of  Clyde 
rested  on  her  going  home  without  me.  The 
alternative  was  too  dreadful  for  her  to  withstand 
my  pertinacity.  She  wished  me  to  remain,  and 
rather  than  have  her  matrimonial  project  blocked 


A  ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  305 

she  preferred  to  yield,  though  it  was  not  until  she 
had  made  a  last  appeal  on  the  score  of  the  ex 
treme  impropriety  of  my  continuing  to  stay  in 
New  York  alone. 

When  she  had  finally  consented  to  take  her 
departure,  I  wrote  a  note  to  the  Honorable 
Ernest  and  to  one  or  two  other  friends,  an 
nouncing  that  we  had  suddenly  been  called 
home,  and  then  I  sat  up  far  into  the  night  put 
ting  my  new-fangled  wardrobe  into  a  plausible 
condition.  To  be  patched  but  neat  seemed  to 
me  the  most  endurable  and  ingratiating,  and  at 
the  same  time  an  equally  secure  guise  in  which  to 
figure,  and  I  devoted  my  energies  to  accomplish 
ing  that  result  before  morning.  On  that  same 
day  also,  to  my  great  relief,  I  succeeded  in  bun 
dling  off  Aunt  Helen  without  further  ado,  and 
the  field  was  cleared  for  operations.  I  should 
have  to  trust  my  maid  to  some  extent,  and  pos 
sibly  to  change  my  lodgings;  but  otherwise  I 
had  swept  away  all  obstacles  to  the  indulgence 
of  this  new  piece  of  eccentricity. 

It  occurred  to  me,  on  the  way  down-town,  that 
Mr.  Prime  would  doubtless  make  some  inquiries 
as  to  my  previous  history  and  present  circum 
stances,  and  that  I  must  go  a  step  further  and 
concoct  some  rational  story  in  order  to  carry 

20 


306  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

out  my  deception  successfully.  I  was  correct 
in  my  surmise.  He  received  me  with  kindness, 
and  showing  me  into  his  private  office  asked  a 
few  direct  questions,  which  I  answered  to  his 
satisfaction  seemingly.  I  represented  myself 
as  one  of  that  much-to-be  pitied  class,  referred 
to  by  Mr.  Chelm,  of  well-educated  but  impecu 
nious  young  people,  who  only  needed  employ 
ment  to  be  comfortable  and  happy.  I  had  no 
parents,  nor  brothers  and  sisters,  and  up  to  this 
time  had  supported  myself  by  teaching  and  by 
copying;  but  the  stress  of  the  times  had  little 
by  little  cut  off  the  sources  of  my  income,  and 
when  he  met  me  yesterday  I  had  sunk  down 
exhausted  and  in  despair  over  the  prospect  of 
finding  anything  to  do.  Such  was  my  pitiful 
tale. 

Fortunately  my  handwriting  did  not  require 
to  be  explained  away  or  disguised  like  the  rest 
of  me.  It  spoke  for  itself,  being  legible  and 
bold,  somewhat  resembling  a  man's  in  the  latter 
particular.  Mr.  Prime  looked  pleased  as  he 
glanced  at  the  specimen  I  prepared  for  his 
inspection,  and  I  felt  that  the  battle  was  won. 
A  few  minutes  later  I  was  engaged  as  a  confi 
dential  clerk  at  a  modest  salary.  My  duties  for 
the  time  were  to  answer  letters,  and  to  copy  out 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  307 

and  arrange  sets  of  figures  at  his  direction ;  and 
he  suggested  that  I  should  as  soon  as  possible 
learn  short-hand. 

I  could  scarcely  help  laughing  aloud  as  I  sat 
and  tried  to  realize  my  new  position.  Mr.  Prime's 
business  was  as  yet,  I  soon  perceived,  lamentably 
small.  The  office  was  commodious,  but  my 
employer  had  besides  me  only  a  book-keeper 
to  help  him, —  a  gaunt,  withered-looking  man 
of  sixty.  This  personage  glanced  at  me  now 
and  again  over  his  spectacles  suspiciously,  and 
would,  I  dare  say,  have  joined  hands  with  my 
enemy  the  police  officer,  as  to  the  probabilities 
affecting  my  moral  character.  Everything  else 
was  done  by  Mr.  Prime,  who  I  was  pleased  to 
notice  was  as  spruce  as  ever  in  his  personal 
appearance.  His  gloves,  his  boots,  his  cravats, 
and  Ike,  the  beautifully  ugly  Ike,  were  as  irre 
proachable  as  ever. 

It  is  wonderful  how  easily  one  grows  accus 
tomed  to  almost  any  change  of  circumstances. 
Of  course  the  first  few  days  of  my  new  life  were 
excessively  strange,  and  I  passed  through  va 
rious  stages  of  alarm  and  mortification  at  my 
own  hardihood  in  entering  upon  it.  But 
after  the  first  week  I  settled  down  to  my  work 
with  interest  and  composure,  no  longer  dis- 


308  A   ROMANTIC    YOUNG  LADY. 

turbed  by  a  fear  of  detection.  For  so  skilful 
was  my  disguise  that  during  that  time  I  ran  the 
gantlet  of  the  glances  both  of  Roger  Dale  and 
the  Honorable  Ernest,  without  exciting  the 
suspicions  of  either.  I  am  not  sure  that  the 
former  did  not  feel  as  if  he  had  seen  my  face 
before,  for  he  stared  at  me  wonderingly,  as  it 
seemed  to  me,  and  for  a  moment  I  feared  that 
all  was  over;  but  he  turned  carelessly  away, 
and  observed  to  my  employer,  loud  enough  for 
his  words  to  reach  my  ears,  — 

"  Nice  looking  girl  that,  Prime.  If  you  don't 
look  out,  I  '11  offer  her  double  the  salary  across 
the  street." 

This  observation  directed  all  eyes  to  me,  for 
there  were  several  men  in  the  group,  and  among 
them  my  English  admirer;  but  in  his  case,  at 
least,  the  adage  regarding  the  blindness  of 
Cupid  was  strikingly  illustrated,  for  though  he 
examined  me  through  his  lorgnette  with  evi 
dent  admiration,  he  contented  himself  with  echo 
ing  the  sentiments  of  his  financial  guide,  only  a 
little  more  euphemistically :  — 

"  She  's  a  daisy,  Prime,  a  daisy.  Reminds  me 
too  of  some  girl  I  've  seen  somewhere.  I  've 
travelled  so  much,  and  seen  so  many  girls,  I  'm 
always  noticing  likenesses.  Jolly  expression  that, 


A    ROMANTIC    YOUNG  LADY.  309 

'  She  's  a  daisy.'  Only  heard  it  yesterday ;  but 
I'm  '  catching  on  '  fast.  How 's  Denver  to-day?  " 

The  Honorable  Ernest  seemed  in  truth  to  be 
"  catching  on "  fast  From  the  remarks  that 
were  let  fall  by  persons  in  the  office,  I  judged 
that  he  must  have  made  a  great  deal  of  money 
already  under  the  tuition  of  Roger  Dale.  The 
success  of  the  latter  was  on  every  one's  lips. 
He  was  coining  thousands  daily,  and  was  as 
shrewd  as  he  was  successful,  according  to  the 
verdict  of  those  whose  sayings  I  overheard. 
He  was  not  very  often  in  our  office,  and  I  was 
glad  to  see  that  no  intimacy  existed  between 
him  and  Mr.  Prime.  Hints  dropped  in  my 
presence  by  some  of  our  less  flighty  looking  cus 
tomers  revealed  to  me  the  fact  that  there  were 
those  who  predicted  for  him  a  fall  as  rapid  as 
had  been  his  rise.  But  I  could  not  help  feeling 
a  little  of  my  former  jealousy  return,  as  I  noted 
how  slack  and  unprofitable  our  business  was 
compared  with  his. 

I  tried  my  best  to  make  myself  of  use ;  and 
my  efforts  were  quickly  appreciated,  for  new 
and  more  important  work  was  intrusted  to  me, 
under  the  pressure  of  which  I  felt  at  first  com 
pletely  tired  out  at  night,  and  thankful  to  get 
to  bed.  As  regards  my  domestic  arrangements, 


310  A    ROMANTIC    YOUNG  LADY. 

I  decided  finally  not  to  change  my  lodgings,  but 
by  dint  of  explicit  instructions  to  my  landlady 
and  maid,  I  managed  to  have  my  presence  in 
the  house  concealed  from  those  of  my  acquain 
tances  who  called.  There  are  always  a  certain 
number  of  people  who  do  not  hear  one  is  in 
town  until  after  one  has  left.  It  was  against 
such  that  I  needed  to  take  precautions;  and 
after  the  impression  was  duly  established  that 
I  was  really  gone,  I  breathed  freely  once  more, 
and  gave  myself  up  to  my  business  with  little 
concern  as  to  the  discovery  of  my  innocent 
deceit.  I  had  to  frame  such  replies  to  Aunt 
Helen's  letters  and  questions  as  the  sensitive 
ness  of  my  conscience  would  permit. 

Mr.  Prime,  in  his  effort  to  build  up  his  busi 
ness,  was  evidently  most  diligent  and  painstak 
ing,  and,  as  I  had  observed  during  my  early 
investigations,  usually  stayed  at  the  office  until 
late.  Of  course  I  never  left  before  him,  and 
perhaps  it  was  not  unnatural  that  after  a  time 
we  got  into  the  way  of  walking  up-town  to 
gether.  One  day  he  happened  to  come  back 
for  something  just  as  I  was  setting  out,  and  he 
walked  along  by  my  side.  Our  ways  lay  in  the 
same  direction,  and  it  was  the  habit  of  each  of 
us  to  walk  home  for  the  sake  of  the  exercise.  It 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  311 

seemed  to  me  in  no  way  dangerous  or  unfitting 
that  I  should  be  otherwise  than  at  ease  in  my 
conversation  with  Mr.  Prime  ;  indeed,  I  was  soon 
conscious  of  a  desire  to  mystify  him  by  giving 
him  a  glimpse  of  my  acquirements.  I  branched 
off  from  the  current  events  of  the  day  to  poetry 
and  art,  and  to  my  gratification  I  found  that  I 
had  touched  a  sympathetic  chord  in  my  com 
panion,  which  not  even  wonder  could  restrain 
from  responding.  After  this  it  became  Mr. 
Prime's  wont  to  wait  for  me  occasionally,  and 
by  the  time  I  had  been  in  his  employ  six 
weeks,  this  became  his  daily  practice.  Our 
intimacy  was  a  curious  one,  for  of  course  we 
avoided  all  personal  and  social  topics,  —  I  from 
necessity,  and  he  doubtless  because  of  the  dif 
ference  in  our  positions  which  he  supposed  to 
exist.  But  on  this  very  account  I  got  a  truer 
impression  of  his  real  self,  for  he  did  not  feel 
the  hamper  of  conventions  in  our  talk,  and 
hence  was  not  affected.  He  said  freely  what  he 
thought  and  believed;  and  underneath  the  ten 
dency  to  regard  everything  in  a  mezzo-cynical, 
mezzo  humorous  light  there  cropped  out  from 
time  to  time  evidences  of  his  earnestness  and 
enthusiasm,  which  as  our  friendship  strength 
ened  were  less  and  less  subordinated  to  raillery 


312  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

and  chaff.  Not  a  whit  inferior  in  cultivation 
to  myself,  he  possessed  besides  a  keen  analytic 
sense  which  I  envied,  especially  as  I  felt  that  it 
did  not  steel  him  against  ideal  considerations. 

Meanwhile  my  usefulness  at  the  office  was 
constantly  increasing;  for  my  employer  now 
made  me  devote  my  time  to  various  sorts  of 
financial  matters,  and  I  could  see  plainly  that 
he  was  puzzled  at  my  aptness.  He  expressed 
the  belief  that  I  must  have  had  experience  else 
where,  for  I  acted,  he  said,  as  if  I  had  been 
accustomed  to  handle  large  sums  all  my  life. 
He  offered  presently  to  raise  my  salary,  but  I 
declared  that  what  I  received  was  sufficient  for 
my  needs.  Much  of  the  time  I  could  see  that 
Mr.  Prime  was  worried,  for  business  though 
active  was  in  an  unsettled  state,  and  I  knew 
from  the  books  that  already  his  capital  was 
somewhat  impaired.  As  I  have  mentioned,  he 
was  studiously  devoted  to  his  work,  and  the 
only  recreation  he  allowed  himself  was  his  daily 
walk  with  me.  I  often  heard  Mr.  Slayback,  our 
book-keeper,  into  whose  good  graces  I  managed 
to  ingratiate  myself  at  the  end  of  a  fortnight, 
sigh  over  the  unremitting  industry  of  our  em 
ployer,  and  declare  that  he  would  break  down  in 
health  before  a  twelve-month  was  past. 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  313 

"  He  will  succeed  first,  and  then  he  can  afford 
to  be  an  invalid,"  I  answered ;  but  acting  on  the 
old  man's  solicitude,  I  did  all  I  could  to  lighten 
the  load. 

One  afternoon,  as  we  were  walking  home,  I 
noticed  that  Mr.  Prime  seemed  especially  grave 
and  moody,  and  I  ventured  to  inquire  if  anything 
serious  had  happened. 

"  Oh,  no ;  a  mere  trifling  loss,  that  is  unimpor 
tant  in  itself,  but  serves  to  impress  upon  me  still 
more  deeply  how  easy  it  is  to  imagine  and  diffi 
cult  to  perform,"  he  answered.  "  It  seems  the 
simplest  thing  in  the  world  to  make  a  fortune 
honestly,  until  one  attempts  it." 

"  But  why  are  you  so  anxious  to  make  a 
fortune?"  I  asked  after  a  silence. 

"Anxious  to  make  a  fortune?  -  Because  it  is 
my  ambition;  because  I  have  always  had  the 
desire  to  try  and  spend  a  fortune  well.  Money 
is  the  greatest  power  in  the  world,  and  every 
man  who  is  strong  and  vital  seeks  to  acquire  it 
Why  did  you  ask?  " 

"  I  have  sometimes  thought  that  a  large 
fortune  would  be  an  unwelcome  responsibility," 
I  said,  noticing  how  much  his  words  resembled 
what  my  father  had  said  to  me.  "  It  would  be 
so  puzzling,  I  should  think,  to  spend  it  wisely." 


3H          A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

"  And  for  that  reason,  would  you  have 
men  afraid  to  try?  How  else  is  the  world 
to  progress?  Those  who  have  leisure  to 
think,  are  those  to  set  mankind  an  example," 
he  replied,. with  a  fierceness  that  made  his  face 
glow. 

My  own  heart  welled  to  my  lips  at  my  com 
panion's  fervor.  He  however,  ashamed  as  it  were 
at  the  extravagance  into  which  he  had  been 
betrayed,  turned  the  conversation  with  some 
careless  jest,  and  for  the  rest  of  the  afternoon 
talked  a  badinage  that  did  not  deceive  me. 

"  At  least,  let  me  say  that  I  am  very  sorry 
you  are  worried,"  I  added. 

In  the  indulgence  of  his  subsequent  gayety, 
I  noticed  that  Mr.  Prime  seemed  to  play  the 
dandy  more  consummately  than  usual,  as  though 
he  were  reflecting  that  come  what  might  he 
would  go  down  as  he  had  declared,  with  a  smile 
on  his  face  and  a  flawless  coat  on  his  back.  I 
had  never  known  him  to  be  more  amusing  and 
nonchalant  than  in  the  half  hour  which  followed 
his  previous  outburst.  When  we  reached  a 
flower-stand  at  the  corner  of  the  streets  where 
our  ways  divided,  he  asked  me  to  wait  a  minute, 
and,  selecting  a  boutoniere  and  a  beautiful  white 
rose,  he  presented  the  latter  to  me. 


A    ROMANTIC   YOUNG   LADY.  315 

"  You  have  saved  me  from  much  weariness 
during  the  past  two  months,  Miss  Bailey,"  he 
said.  "This  flower  may  brighten  the  dinginess 
of  your  lodgings." 

Alice  Bailey  was  the  name  by  which  I  was 
known  to  Mr.  Prime.  I  was  free  to  take  his 
words  in  any  sense  I  chose,  and  believe  that  they 
had  reference  to  my  work  at  the  office  or  to  my 
companionship,  or  to  both.  In  acknowledg 
ment  of  his  politeness  I  dropped  a  little  curtsy, 
as  I  might  have  done  to  any  one  of  my  real 
acquaintances  on  a  similar  occasion;  and  as  I 
did  so,  I  noticed  that  he  regarded  me  with  a 
strange  look  of  admiration. 

"You  did  that,"  said  he,  "as  if  you  had  never 
done  anything  else ;  and  yet,  I  dare  say  you 
were  never  in  a  ball-room  in  your  life." 

"  Never,"  I  answered  with  a  smile. 

"  Adaptiveness,  that  is  the  word.  Our  people 
arc  so  adaptive.  But  there  is  something  about 
you  that  puzzles  me  more  every  day,  Miss 
Bailey.  Excuse  my  detaining  you,  but  I  am 
in  a  philosophical  vein  for  the  moment  and  need 
an  audience.  I  would  walk  home  with  you,  but 
you  have  always  forbidden  me  that  pleasure. 
Frankly,  you  have  puzzled  me;  and  that  curtsy 
caps  the  climax.  There  are  certain  things 


316          A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

adaptiveness  cannot  accomplish,  and  that  is  one 
of  them." 

"  Have  you  no  faith  in  the  child  of  Nature?" 
I  asked  archly. 

"  I  had  none  in  that  sense  a  few  moments 
ago,  but  all  my  theories  are  falling  to  the 
ground.  Forbear  though,  Miss  Bailey,"  he  said 
with  a  sudden  air  of  sportive  mystery,  "  you  can 
not  afford  to  ruin  your  chances  of  success  for 
the  sake  of  a  merely  ornamental  gift.  You  play 
the  grande  dame  so  well,  that  you  are  sure  to 
reap  the  penalty  of  it.  Forbear,  I  warn  you, 
before  it  is  too  late.  I  know  of  what  I  speak. 
I  have  been  a  gentleman  for  years,  and  I  am 
acquainted  with  all  the  ins  and  outs  of  the  call 
ing.  It  is  a  poor  one ;  avoid  it.  But  you  will 
pardon  this  somewhat  lengthy  monologue.  I 
have  kept  you  from  your  supper.  Good-night. 
Come,  Ike." 

As  I  tripped  across  the  street,  with  all  the 
grace  and  elegance  at  my  command,  I  could 
not  resist  the  temptation  to  look  once  over  my 
shoulder.  Mr.  Prime  stood  watching  me  just 
where  I  had  left  him,  and  he  raised  his  hat  as 
he  caught  my  eye,  with  the  style  of  a  cavalier 
saluting  his  mistress.  A  pretty  way  forsooth, 
thought  I,  for  an  aristocratic  banker  to  part 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG   LADY.  317 

from  his  hired  clerk !  But  I  felt  sure  that  my 
secret  was  safe. 

Our  relations  were  from  this  day  on  a  differ 
ent  footing,  or  rather  it  was  apparent  to  me  that 
Mr.  Prime  was  very  partial  to  my  society.  I 
remember  that  he  asked  me  to  walk  with  him 
on  the  following  Sunday,  and  we  spent  the 
beautiful  spring  morning  in  sauntering  about 
the  Park.  I  felt  a  little  sorry  for  my  companion 
that  I  should  have  to  appear  so  unfashionably 
attired,  but  I  did  not  dare  to  do  otherwise.  He 
seemed  wholly  indifferent  to  the  circumstance, 
however,  and  I  think  the  hours  flew  by  too 
quickly  for  us  both.  I  ascribed  my  own  sen 
sations  of  happiness  to  the  loveliness  of  the 
weather. 

So  too  it  became  of  frequent  occurrence  for 
Mr.  Prime  to  bring,  me  flowers  or  books,  and  our 
Sunday  stroll  was  repeated  again  and  again. 
As  the  weather  grew  more  balmy  we  substi 
tuted  for  it  expeditions  to  the  various  resorts 
in  the  environs  of  the  city,  where  we  could 
catch  a  whiff  of  the  ocean  breeze,  or  refresh 
our  eyes  with  a  glimpse  of  the  green  country. 
These  days  were  so  pleasant  to  me  that  I 
avoided  thinking  what  was  to  be  the  outcome 
of  them.  They  could  not  last  forever.  Already 


318  A    ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

Aunt  Helen's  letters  expressed  an  alarm  at 
my  long  absence,  which  I  was  only  too  well 
aware  I  should  soon  find  it  impossible  to  allay. 
My  salvation  was  the  fact  that  she  believed  Mr. 
Ferroll  to  be  still  in  town :  I  had  failed  to  tell 
her  of  his  departure  for  the  West  about  ten  days 
after  she  left.  To  my  letters  to  her,  which  were 
necessarily  laconic,  I  appended  as  an  invariable 
postscript,  "  Not  yet,"  by  which  she  would  un 
derstand  that  he  had  not  yet  put  the  decisive 
question ;  and  sometimes  when  I  feared  lest  her 
patience  might  be  exhausted,  I  would  add,  "but 
I  have  hopes,"  which  was  sure  to  reconcile  her 
for  the  time  being  to  my  staying  away  a  little 
longer.  To  be  sure  I  was  my  own  mistress,  but 
I  was  well  aware,  notwithstanding,  that  Aunt 
Helen  was  fully  capable  of  coming  on  some  fine 
day,  with  horse,  foot,  and  dragoons,  and  putting 
a  summary  end  to  my  financial  idyl. 

I  began  also  to  put  the  question  to  myself, 
why  I  wished  to  remain  in  New  York.  I  had 
accomplished  all  that  was  possible,  without  re 
vealing  my  identity,  in  the  way  of  supervising 
the  affairs  of  Francis  Prime  and  Company.  It 
was  clearer  to  me  than  ever  that  a  fortune  could 
only  be  made  by  slow  degrees,  and  that  years 
must  elapse  doubtless  before  my  protege  would 


A   ROMANTIC    YOUNG  LADY.  319 

attain  his  ambition.  The  letters  forwarded  by 
Mr.  Chelm,  and  my  own  observations  on  the 
spot,  told  me  that  the  affairs  of  the  firm  were 
only  moderately  prosperous.  Especially  was 
I  convinced  of  the  truth  of  this  last  statement, 
from  the  fact  that  my  employer  had  of  late 
mixed  himself  up  in  certain  speculatious  with 
Mr.  Dale,  from  which  he  had  made  profits  suffi 
cient  to  recoup  his  previous  losses  and  still  show 
a  balance  in  his  favor.  But  I  knew  that  he,  as 
well  as  I,  mistrusted  the  soundness  of  the  firm 
across  the  street,  and  felt  that  in  yielding  to  the 
temptation  of  following  its  lead  he  was  running 
the  risk  of  serious  losses.  Mr.  Prime  confessed 
as  much  to  me,  and  declared  that  after  a  single 
venture  to  which  he  had  already  committed 
himself  was  terminated,  he  intended  to  have  no 
more  transactions  with  Roger  Dale. 

It  was  indeed  difficult  to  say  why  I  still  con 
tinued  to-  remain  in  Mr.  Prime's  employ.  Al 
though,  as  I  have  indicated,  I  put  the  ques 
tion  to  myself  sometimes,  I  shrank  from  doing 
so,  and  felt  disposed  to  let  the  future  take  care 
of  itself,  provided  I  was  permitted  to  enjoy  the 
present  undisturbed.  But  this  was  beginning 
to  be  more  and  more  difficult.  There  were  in 
terests  at  home  which  could  not  be  longer 


320          A    ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

neglected  without  my  incurring  blame.  I  be 
longed  to  societies  and  clubs  at  which  my 
presence  was  required.  Then,  too,  it  would  not 
be  many  weeks  before  the  Honorable  Ernest 
would  return  to  pay  his  promised  visit  to  Aunt 
Agnes,  and  I  felt  far  from  sure  that  I  should 
not  make  a  mistake  to  discourage  his  advan 
ces.  There  was  a  wide  difference  between  the 
sphere  of  an  Alice  Bailey  and  the  Duchess  of 
Clyde. 

But  still  I  delayed  my  return.  How  well  I 
recall  one  Saturday  afternoon  in  June,  when 
as  by  a  common  instinct  business  men  seemed 
to  close  their  doors  earlier  than  usual,  and  Mr. 
Prime  and  I  set  off  to  enjoy  a  half  holiday 
in  our  usual  fashion.  He  was  at  the  height  of 
good  spirits,  for  the  affair  in  which  he  was 
interested  jointly  with  Roger  Dale  was  doing 
wonderfully  well,  and  the  profits  promised  to 
be  enormous.  Absorbed  in  conversation,  we 
failed  to  notice  the  close  proximity  of  a  rapidly 
driven  horse,  from  under  the  hoofs  of  which 
I  escaped  by  a  mere  hair's  breadth.  It  was  a 
trivial  incident  in  itself,  but  the  exclamation 
which  my  companion  made,  and  the  eager  im 
petuous  way  in  which  he  expressed  himself 
regarding  my  safety,  served  to  open  my  eyes 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  321 

to  the  real  condition  of  affairs  between  us. 
There  was  no  use  in  my  seeking  longer  to  con 
ceal  from  myself  the  reason  for  my  remaining 
in  New  York.  It  was  Mr.  Prime's  society  that 
held  me  there,  and  decency  bade  me  to  put 
an  end  to  our  relations  at  once,  but  on  his  ac 
count  far  more  than  on  my  own;  for  while  I 
flattered  myself  that  my  heart  was  untouched 
save  by  the  emotion  of  a  warm  friendship,  I 
could  not  dismiss  the  conviction  that  his  feeling 
for  me  was  rapidly  approaching  the  point  at 
which  friendship  becomes  an  impossibility.  I 
must  go,  and  immediately.  It  was  foolish  and 
culpable  of  me  to  have  stayed  so  long.  A  girl 
in  the  first  blush  of  maidenhood  might  excuse 
herself  on  the  score  of  not  recognizing  the  signs 
of  a  more  than  Platonic  interest,  but  for  me  such 
an  apology  could  not  be  other  than  a  subterfuge. 
Mr.  Prime  had  worry  enough  already,  and  why 
add  to  it  the  pain  of  an  unrequited  attachment? 
I  would  go  on  Monday.  To-morrow  we  were 
to  walk  once  more,  and  I  would  frame  some 
excuse,  which  he  would  never  suspect,  for 
severing  our  connections. 

But   parallel    with    these    reflections    was    a 
certain  element  of  curiosity  in  my  mind  as  to 
whether   Francis   Prime  would  be  ever  so   far 
21 


322  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

carried  away  by  his  liking  for  me  as  to  ask  me 
to  become  his  wife, —  me,  Alice  Bailey,  his 
poor,  hired  clerk !  I  wondered  that  I  should 
be  especially  interested  in  the  matter,  for  its 
ludicrous  side  was  at  once  apparent;  that  is  to 
say,  the  situations  portrayed  in  cheap  contem 
poraneous  fiction,  of  beautiful  working-girls  led 
to  the  altar  by  the  sons  of  rich  bankers,  imme 
diately  suggested  themselves.  But  neverthe 
less  the  thought  haunted  me,  and  I  did  not  feel 
altogether  the  degree  of  contrition  at  the  idea 
of  having  captivated  him  that  I  perhaps  should 
have  done.  If  it  was  not  for  myself  alone  that 
he  loved  me,  what  was  his  love  worth  ?  If  the 
lowliness  of  my  position  deterred  him  from 
asking  me  to  marry  him,  I  was  wasting  sympa 
thy  upon  him,  and  taking  needless  precautions. 
The  idea  roused  me  strangely,  and  I  found 
myself  taking  sides  against  myself  in  an  imag 
inary  debate  as  to  the  probabilities  of  his  con 
duct.  It  made  every  vein  in  my  body  tingle, 
to  think  that  birth  or  fortune  might  be  able  to 
affect  his  decision ;  and  it  seemed  to  me,  as  I 
sought  my  pillow  that  night,  that  I  almost 
hated  him. 

In  the  morning  I  decided  that  I  had  probably 
overestimated  his  feelings  toward  me,  and  that 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  323 

although  I  had  better  go  home  on  the  following 
day,  there  was  no  reason  why  I  should  treat 
Mr.  Prime  other  than  as  usual.     He  was   not 
in  love  with  me ;  or  if  he  were,  he  was  not  man 
enough  to  acknowledge  it.     I  should  refuse  him 
if  he  did ;   but  I  hated  to  feel  that  I  had  been 
expending  so  much  friendship  on  a  man  whose 
soul  could  not  soar  beyond*  birth   and   fortune. 
Had  he  not  told  me  that  money  was  the  great 
est  power  on  earth?     So,  too,  he  had  said  to 
my  face  that  a  lady  could  not  be  made,  but  was 
born.     I  was  irrational,  and  I  was  conscious  of 
being  irrational;  but  I  did  not  care.     I  would 
make  him  wince  at  least,  and  feel  for  a  time  the 
tortures  of  a  love  he  did  not  dare  to  express. 
Ah !   but  such  a  love  was  not  worthy  of  the 
name,  and  it  was  I  who  was  become  the  fitting 
subject  for  the  finger  of  derision,  because  I  had 
put  my  faith  in  him. 

These  were  the  thoughts  that  harassed  me  be 
fore  I  met  Mr.  Prime  on  Sunday,  and  we  turned 
our  steps  with  tacit  unanimity  toward  the  Park. 
I  walked  in  silence,  chafing  inwardly ;  and  he  too, 
I  fancy,  was  nervous  and  self-absorbed,  though  I 
paid  little  heed  to  his  emotions,  so  complex 
were  my  own.  We  had  not  proceeded  very  far 
before  he  turned  to  me  and  said  simply, — 


324          A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

"  What  is  the  matter?  Have  I  offended  you 
in  any  way  ?  " 

"Do  you  think  then,  Mr.  Prime,  that  my 
thoughts  must  always  be  of  you?"  I  answered. 

"  Alas !  no.  But  something  has  happened. 
You  cannot  deceive  me." 

I  was  silent  a  moment.  "  Yes,  something 
has  happened.  I  am  going  to  leave  New 
York." 

"  Going  to  leave  New  York !  "  he  stopped 
abruptly,  and  looked  at  me  with  amazement. 

"  Yes,"  I  said  quietly.  "  My  aunt  has  sent  for 
me,  and  it  is  imperative  that  I  should  go.  She 
is  in  trouble  and  needs  me.  It  is  a  long  story, 
and  one  with  which  I  will  not  weary  you.  It  is 
not  necessary  that  you  should  be  burdened  with 
my  private  affairs;  you  have  enough  troubles 
of  your  own.  Let  us  change  the  subject,  please. 
But  you  will  have  to  let  me  go  to-morrow,  Mr. 
Prime.  I  am  very  sorry  to  inconvenience  you, 
but,  as  I  have  already  said,  it  is  imperative." 

My  words  were  so  cold  that  I  could  see  he 
was  puzzled,  and  my  heart  softened  toward  him 
a  little.  At  least  he  had  been  kind  to  me.  He 
walked  on  for  a  few  moments  without  speaking. 
We  entered  the  Park,  and  turned  into  a  path 
where  we  should  be  unobserved. 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.          325 

"I  have  no  right  to  inquire  into  your  private 
affairs,  I  well  know,"  he  said  presently,  "  but  I 
wish  you  would  let  me  help  you." 

"  I  am  sure  of  your  sympathy,  Mr.  Prime ; 
and  if  you  could  be  of  any  service  in  the  matter, 
I  would  call  upon  you." 

"  Where  does  your  aunt  live?  " 
"  I  had  rather  not  answer  that  question." 
He  looked  grave,  and  as  I  glanced  at  him  a 
frown  passed  over  his  face.  "  He  is  thinking 
doubtless,"  thought  I,  "  that  it  is  I  who  have 
done  something  wrong,  and  am  trying  to  mis 
lead  him ;  or  he  is  reflecting  how  wise  he  was 
not  to  offer  himself  to  a  woman  with  whose  an 
tecedents  he  is  unacquainted.  He  mistrusts 
me  at  the  first  hint  of  suspicion,  and  would  sac 
rifice  his  love  on  the  altar  of  conventionality." 
Curiously  enough,  I  seemed  to  take  it  for 
granted  that  he  was  in  love  with  me. 

"  And  you  must  go  to-morrow?"  he  asked. 
"  To-morrow,  without  fail." 
"  But  you  will  return  soon?  " 
"  I  do  not  expect  to  return  at  all." 
"  Impossible  !    You  cannot  go  !  "  he  said  with 
a  sudden  outburst;  but  he  corrected  himself  in 
a  restrained  voice :   "  I  do  not  mean,  of  course, 
that  you  cannot  go  if  you  choose." 


326          A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

"  I  am  quite  aware,  Mr.  Prime,  that  this  will 
cause  you  great  annoyance,"  said  I.  "  If  it  were 
possible  for  me  to  remain  until  you  could  find 
another  assistant  without  neglecting  duties  that 
are  still  more  important,  I  would  do  so." 

He  made  a  motion  as  though  to  wave  that 
consideration  aside.  "No  one  can  take  your 
place.  But  that  is  not  all.  Let  us  sit  down, 
Miss  Bailey;  I  have  something  to  say  to  you. 
I  had  meant  to  say  it  very  soon,  but  it  must  be 
said  now  or  never.  I  love  you  !  " 

I  trembled  like  a  leaf  at  his  avowal,  —  I  did 
not  even  yet  know  why. 

"  I  love  you  from  the  bottom  of  my  soul," 
he  said  once  more,  and  now  his  words  were 
poured  out  in  a  passionate  flood,  to  which  I 
listened  with  a  strange  joy  that  thrilled  me 
through  and  through. 

"  I  have  never  loved  before.  You  are  the 
first,  the  very  first  woman  in  the  world  who  has 
ever  touched  my  heart.  I  did  not  know  what 
it  was  to  love  until  a  few  days  ago,  and  I  could 
not  understand  how  friendship  should  seem  so 
sweet.  But  last  night,  when  I  saw  you  almost 
trampled  under  foot  and  swept  away  forever 
from  me,  I  knew  that  what  I  had  begun  to 
guess,  was  the  truth." 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.          327 

"  It  is  impossible  for  you  to  love  me.  I  am 
merely  a  poor  friendless  girl,  without  fortune 
or  position,"  I  murmured. 

"  Yes,  yes,  you  are ;  and  that  is  the  strange 
and  wonderful  part  of  it  all.  I  love  and  adore 
you,  in  spite  of  theory  and  principle  and  the 
judgment  of  wise  men.  But  I  defy  their  laugh 
ter  and  their  sneers,  for  I  can  point  to  you  and 
say,  '  Show  me  her  match  among  the  daughters 
of  the  proud  and  wealthy.  She  is  the  peer  of 
any.'  I  disbelieved  in  the  power  of  Nature  to 
imitate  the  excellence  of  woman,  and  I  am 
punished  for  my  lack  of  faith.  And  how  sweet 
and  exquisite  the  punishment,  if  only,  Alice, 
you  will  tell  me  that  my  prayer  is  granted,  and 
that  you  will  be  my  wife." 

"  Ah !  but  I  should  only  be  a  burden  to  you. 
I  can  bring  you  nothing,  not  even  an  untar 
nished  name,  for  though  you  see  me  as  I  am, 
you  do  not  know  what  others  whose  blood  is  in 
my  veins  have  done." 

"  What  is  that  to  me?  "  he  cried  fiercely  ;  "  it 
is  you  that  I  love !  " 

"  But  you  are  striving  to  become  rich.  It  .is 
your  ambition.  Have  you  not  told  me  so? 
Money  is  the  greatest  power  on  earth.  You 
said  that,  too." 


328          A   ROMANTIC    YOUNG  LADY. 

"  And  it  was  a  lie.  I  had  never  loved.  What 
is  money  to  me  now?  But,  no,  I  am  wrong.  It 
is  my  ambition,  and  without  your  sympathy 
and  affection  I  shall  never  attain  it" 

He  gazed  at  me  imploringly,  and  yet  though 
my  eyes  were  overflowing  with  tears  in  the 
fulness  of  my  new-found  happiness,  I  still  shook 
my  head. 

"  Listen  to  me,  Mr.  Prime,"  I  said  quietly,  after 
a  short  silence  between  us.  "  I  am  very  grateful 
to  you — how  could  I  be  otherwise?  —  for 
what  you  have  said  to  me.  Yours  were  the 
sweetest  and  most  precious  words  to  which  I 
ever  listened.  You  have  asked  me  to  become 
your  wife,  because  you  loved  me  for  myself 
alone :  that  I  can  be  sure  of,  since  I  have 
nothing  but  myself  to  bring  you.  It  makes  me 
more  happy  than  I  dare  think  of;  but  in  spite 
of  all  you  have  said  to  me,  I  cannot  accept  your 
sacrifice.  I  cannot  consent  to  mar  your  hopes 
for  the  future  with  all  I  lack.  You  think  you 
love  me  now,  and  I  believe  you ;  but  the  time 
might  come  when  you  would  see  that  you  had 
made  a  mistake,  and  that  would  kill  me.  I  am 
not  of  your  opinion  as  to  the  power  of  Nature 
to  imitate  the  excellence  of  woman.  You  were 
right  at  first.  Ladies  are  born,  not  made ;  and 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.          329 

were  you  to  marry  in  the  station  of  life  in  which 
you  see  me,  the  scales  would  some  day  drop 
from  your  eyes,  and  you  would  know  that  you 
had  been  deceived  by  love.  No,  Mr.  Prime,  I 
should  not  be  worthy  to  become  your  wife  were 
I  to  accept  your  offer.  The  difference  between 
us  is  too  great,  and  the  banker  and  his  hired 
female  clerk  will  never  be  on  an  equality  to  the 
end  of  the  world.  I  am  sorry  —  ah,  so  sorry  !  — 
to  wound  you  thus,  but  I  cannot  permit  you  to 
throw  your  life  away." 

"Then  you  do  not  love  me?"  he  asked,  with 
a  piteous  cry. 

"Love  you?"  I  gave  a  little  joyous  laugh 
before  I  said,  "  I  shall  never  love  any  one  else 
in  the  world." 

It  would  take  too  long  to  repeat  the  efforts 
Mr.  Prime  made  to  lead  me  to  reconsider  my 
resolution.  Meanwhile  I  was  racking  my  brains 
to  find  a  way  of  letting  matters  rest  without 
depriving  him  utterly  of  hope.  As  he  said,  the 
knowledge  that  my  heart  was  his  only  increased 
the  bitterness  of  his  despair.  Happy  as  I  was, 
I  felt  bewildered  and  uncertain.  I  shrank  in 
stinctively  from  revealing  my  identity  at  once. 
I  wanted  time  to  think.  I  scarcely  knew  the 
character  of  my  own  emotions.  At  one  mo- 


330          A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

ment  I  blushed  with  a  sense  of  the  web  of  deceit 
that  I  had  wound  about  him,  and  at  another  with 
the  joyful  consciousness  of  our  mutual  love. 
What  would  he  say  when  the  truth  was  made 
known  to  him?  Ah!  but  he  loves  me  for 
myself  alone,  was  the  answering  thought. 

I  had  continued  to  shake  my  head  as  the 
sole  response  to  his  burning  petition;  but  at 
last  I  turned  to  him  and  said  that  if  he  were 
content  to  wait,  say  a  year,  and  let  his  passion 
have  time  to  cool,  I  might  be  less  obdurate. 
But  in  the  interim  he  was  to  make  no  effort 
to  discover  my  whereabouts,  or  to  follow  me. 
He  must  not  even  write  to  me  (perhaps  I  had 
a  secret  idea  that  too  many  letters  strangle 
love),  but  pursue  the  tenor  of  his  way  as 
though  I  had  never  existed.  If  at  the  end 
of  that  time  he  still  wished  me  to  become  his 
wife,  it  might  be  I  should  no  longer  refuse. 
It  was  better  for  us  both,  I  said,  that  we 
should  part  for  the  present.  He  must  consider 
himself  free  as  air,  and  I  should  think  him 
sensible  if  on  reflection  he  strove  to  banish 
me  from  his  thoughts. 

"  A  year  is  a  long  time,"  he  answered. 

"  Long  enough,  almost,  to  make  a  fortune  in, 
as  well  as  to  become  wise  and  prudent." 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.          331 

By  making  him  wait,  I  should  let  the  banking- 
scheme  develop  itself  a  little  further. 

When  by  dint  of  my  refusal  to  yield  further 
he  was  forced  to  consent  to  these  terms,  we 
gave  ourselves  up  to  enjoyment  of  the  few 
hours  which  we  could  still  pass  together.  I 
talked  and  laughed,  over-bubbling  with  happi 
ness;  but  he  would  sigh  ever  and  anon,  as 
though  he  felt  that  I  were  about  to  slip  from 
his  sight  to  return  no  more.  Once  in  the 
gayety  of  my  mood  I  called  Ike  to  me,  and 
stooped  to  pat  his  pudgy  sides.  "  Ike  the 
imperious,  beautifully  ugly  Ike !  "  I  cried  with 
glee,  and  with  a  daring  that  but  for  its  very 
boldness  might  have  disclosed  all. 

But  my  lover  was  in  no  mood  to  make  deduc 
tions.  "  You  seem  so  joyous,  Alice,  one  would 
suppose  that  you  were  glad  to  leave  me." 

"  I  am  joyous,  —  yes,  very  joyous,  —  for  I 
have  been  brave  enough  to  save  the  man  I  love 
from  a  mesalliance." 


332  A    ROMANTIC  YOUNG   LADY. 


V. 


'  I  ^HE  effect  on  a  woman  of  the  revelation 
-*-  that  she  loves  him  who  has  proffered 
her  his  heart,  is  like  the  awakening  of  buds  in 
spring,  which  beneath  the  soft  mysterious 
breath  of  an  invisible  power  burst  their  bonds 
with  graceful  reluctance,  and  shyly  gladden 
Nature. 

It  seemed  to  me  as  if  I  had  never  lived 
before.  Unlike  the  untutored  passion  of  my 
extreme  youth,  my  happiness  was  calm  and 
reflective,  but  none  the  less  satisfying.  Under 
its  sway  I  found  it  a  comparatively  easy  task 
to  overcome  the  querulousness  and  revive  the 
hopes  of  Aunt  Helen  on  my  return  home.  It 
was  my  desire,  of  course,  to  avoid  any  further 
deception,  and  I  sought  refuge  in  silence,  beyond 
the  statement  that  the  future  Duke  of  Clyde  had 
gone  to  the  West  without  making  any  definite 
proposal.  But  I  assured  her  that  he  was  certain 
to  visit  us  within  a  few  months. 

I  took  up  the  round  of  my  avocations  as 
if  nothing  had  happened.  We  had  hired  a 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.          333 

cottage  at  Newport  for  the  summer,  and  there 
I  ensconced  myself,  and  strove  by  means  of 
books  and  friends  to  keep  the  alternate  exuber 
ance  and  depression  of  my  spirits  within 
bounds.  But  though  I  was  at  times  melancholy 
for  a  sight  of  my  lover,  joy  was  chiefly  predom 
inant  in  my  heart,  —  so  much  so  that  people 
commented  on  my  cheerfulness,  and  Aunt  Helen 
dropped  occasional  hints  which  led  me  to  be 
lieve  she  cherished  secretly  the  opinion  that  I 
was  enamoured  of  her  idol. 

My  visits  to  Mr.  Chelm's  office  were  of 
course  renewed.  I  told  him  that  I  had  visited 
the  street  where  the  office  of  Francis  Prime 
and  Company  was  situated,  and  had  been 
pleased  at  getting  a  glimpse  of  it.  In  answer  to 
my  questions  as  to  what  he  thought  of  the  pro 
gress  of  the  firm  he  said  very  little,  except  that 
all  business  was  in  an  unsettled  state,  owing  to 
the  speculative  spirit  that  had  followed  the  long 
period  of  stagnation.  As  yet,  my  prot6g6  seemed 
to  have  been  generally  prudent,  but  it  needed  the 
experience  of  a  tried  business  man  to  resist  the 
temptations  to  make  money  by  short  cuts  pre 
sented  at  the  present  time.  He  judged  from 
the  last  report  sent  him,  that  he  had  been  lately 
making  one  or  two  successful  ventures  in  a 


334          A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

doubtful  class  of  securities,  and  he  should  take 
it  upon  himself,  with  my  permission,  to  give 
him  advice  to  avoid  them  for  the  future. 

I  felt  an  eager  desire  to  say  he  had  already 
promised  that  the  speculation  in  which  he  was 
now  engaged  should  be  the  last;  but  that  of 
course  was  impossible,  without  disclosing  my 
secret.  How  should  I  ever  have  the  face  to 
make  confession  to  Mr.  Chelm  when  the  time 
came,  if  it  ever  did  come? 

As  the  months  slipped  away,  I  began  to  be 
haunted  occasionally  by  the  thought  that  a  year 
was  a  longer  time  than  I  had  supposed,  and  it 
might  be  that  Francis  Prime  would  take  me  at 
my  word,  and  try  to  forget  me.  At  such  mo 
ments  my  heart  seemed  to  stand  still,  and  a 
weary  vista  of  monotonous  and  never-ceasing 
maidenhood  arose  before  me.  It  would  be 
preferable  to  die  than  to  be  deceived  now.  I 
would  not  doubt;  and  indeed  I  did  not  doubt. 
But  who  can  control  the  changing  moods  of 
the  imagination? 

I  think  the  consciousness  that  such  a  thing  as 
his  proving  false  was  a  possibility  affected  my 
treatment  of  my  maiden  aunts,  and  made  me 
more  gefctle  and  considerate  in  regard  to  their 
foibles.  The  early  lives  of  both  of  them  were 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.          335 

sealed  books  to  me,  excepting  the  glimpse  Aunt 
Helen  had  given  me  of  hers  at  the  time  of  my 
own  first  sorrow.  Who  could  tell  that  there  was 
not  in  their  hearts  some  bit  of  cruel  treachery  or 
misunderstanding  still  remembered  though  un- 
mentioned,  which  had  seared  and  withered  ex 
istence  for  them?  It  was  this  feeling  among 
others,  that  urged  me  to  write  to  Aunt  Agnes 
and  ask  permission  to  spend  a  day  or  two 
with  her  before  we  finally  returned  to  town.  She 
never  left  the  city,  preferring,  as  she  declared, 
the  stability  of  the  bricks  and  mortar,  to  being 
drowned  at  the  sea-side  or  mangled  by  cattle  in 
the  country.  Rather  to  my  surprise,  she  said 
in  her  answer  that  she  had  been  on  the  point 
of  writing  to  me  herself,  but  would  now  defer 
mentioning  the  matter  she  had  in  mind  until 
we  met. 

As  I  had  divined,  the  subject  that  was  en 
grossing  her  as  regards  me  was  the  coming  visit 
of  the  Honorable  Ernest  Ferroll.  She  had 
heard  from  him  at  San  Francisco  to  the  effect 
that  he  was  on  the  point  of  starting  for  the  East, 
and  that  he  took  the  liberty  of  forwarding  to 
her  his  letters  of  introduction  as  preliminary  to 
paying  his  respects  to  her  in  person.  But  on 
the  particular  evening  of  my  arrival  I  found  Aunt 


336          A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

Agnes  oblivious  to  everything  except  a  piece  of 
information  which,  though  far  from  incredible 
to  me,  had  evidently  been  to  her  like  lightning 
from  a  clear  sky.  The  forbidding  manner  in 
which  she  received  me  led  me  to  fancy  that  I  had 
displeased  her;  and  remembering  her  previous 
discovery,  the  awful  suspicion  that  she  had 
ferreted  out  my  secret  seized  me  for  an  instant. 
But  I  was  speedily  reassured. 

"  I  am  glad  you  are  here,  Virginia,  if  only  to 
read  this.  You  were  right,  child,  after  all;  and 
I  am  an  old  fool,  over  whose  eyes  any  one  seems 
to  be  able  to  pull  the  wool." 

She  spoke  in  her  sternest  tones,  and  held  out 
to  me  a  newspaper  in  which  was  the  announce 
ment  of  the  nuptials  of  Mr.  Charles  Liversage 
Spence  and  Miss  Lucretia  Kingsley,  — "  no 
cards." 

"Did  you  not  know  they  were  engaged?"  I 
inquired. 

"  I  know  nothing  but  what  you  see  there," 
replied  my  aunt;  "  and  what  is  more,  I  wish  to 
know  nothing  further." 

"They  have  acted  for  some  time  as  if  they 
were  engaged.  If  they  are  in  love  with  each 
other  it  seems  best  that  they  should  be  married, 
after  all,"  I  said,  not  caring  to  express  my  opin- 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  337 

ion  as  to  the  especial  fitness  of  the  match  with 
any  greater  emphasis. 

"In  love  with  each  other!  What  right  had 
she  to  fall  in  love  with  him,  I  should  like  to 
know?"  she  exclaimed  with  indignation.  "She 
a  mere  disciple,  a  pupil,  to  fall  in  love  with  the 
master;  aspire  to  be  the  wife  of  a  man  as  far 
superior  to  her  as  a  planet  to  an  ordinary  star! 
Bah  !  Fall  in  love  with  him  !  Tell  me!  It  was 
bad  enough  when  he  fell  in  love  with  you, 
Virginia;  but  this  is  fifty  times  worse,  because 
she  knew  better,  and  understood  the  value  of 
celibacy  to  such  a  life.  Her  conduct  amounts 
to  utter  selfishness." 

"  I  think  Miss  Kingsley  has  had  designs  on 
Mr.  Spence  for  a  long  time.  That  was  why  she 
was  so  bitter  against  me,"  I  said. 

"  Would  that  you  had  married  him,  Virginia  ! 
I  could  have  endured  that.  But  this  is  disgust 
ing  !  I  never  wish  to  see  either  of  them  again," 
emphatically  remarked  Aunt  Agnes. 

It  was  useless  to  represent  to  her  that  Mrs. 
Spence  was  very  much  in  love  with  her  husband, 
and  that  on  that  account  would  doubtless  strive 
to  make  him  happy.  It  was  the  fact  of  their 
marriage  that  distressed  her;  and,  unlike  me,  she 
did  not  think  of  pitying  Mr.  Spence  because  of 

22 


338  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

any  flaws  in  the  disposition  of  his  wife.  I  tried 
therefore  to  dismiss  the  matter  from  the  conver 
sation  as  soon  as  possible ;  and  before  the  end  of 
the  evening  her  mood  was  so  far  mollified  that 
she  introduced  the  subject  of  the  Honorable 
Ernest's  arrival. 

"Yes,  Virginia,"  she  said,  "it  is  forty-one 
years  ago  that  I  made  the  ocean  passage  with 
that  young  man's  father,  and  we  have  corre 
sponded  ever  since.  That  is  what  comes  of 
being  systematic  in  one's  habits.  Now,  don't 
go  fancying  that  there  was  anything  more  in 
it  than  there  really  was.  We  were  friends 
simply,  nothing  else.  But  a  friend  means 
something  to  me;  and  I  mean  to  receive  this 
young  man  into  my  house,  and  show  him  every 
attention  in  my  power.  And  you  tell  me  that 
you  have  met  him  in  New  York,  and  like  him 
very  much?  I  am  not  a  match-maker,  Virginia, 
like  your  Aunt  Helen;  but  it  would  doubtless 
be  very  agreeable  to  both  the  families  if  you 
young  people  should  happen  to  take  a  fancy 
to  each  other.  Stranger  things  have  occurred ; 
and  since  it  is  evident  to  me  from  an  intimate 
knowledge  of  your  character  that  you  are  sure 
to  marry  some  day,  I  know  of  no  one  whom  it 
would  please  me  so  much  to  intrust  your  future 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.          339 

happiness  to,  as  the  son  of  my  old  friend.  His 
presumptive  rank  would  probably  weigh  for 
more  with  you  than  with  me.  Provided  the 
young  man  has  high  principles  and  a  steadfast 
purpose,  I  shall  be  content." 

I  laughed  gently  in  reply.  I  had  made  up 
my  mind  not  to  thwart  the  old  lady  openly.  It 
would  be  time  enough  for  that  later,  if  the  Hon 
orable  Britain  ever  should  come  to  the  point 
It  was  such  a  novel  coincidence  that  my  aunts 
should  agree  for  once  on  anything,  that  the 
thought  of  putting  myself  in  antagonism  with 
them  did  not  occur  to  me  seriously  for  a  mo 
ment.  I  felt  the  humor  of  the  situation,  and  was 
also  filled  at  once  with  the  desire  to  harmonize 
them  forever  by  means  of  this  common  interest 

"  We  will  see,  Aunt  Agnes,  what  he  thinks  of 
me,"  I  said ;  and  all  through  my  visit  of  two 
days  I  dropped  hints  of  the  efforts  Aunt  Helen 
had  made  in  New  York  to  prejudice  Mr.  Ferroll 
in  my  favor. 

"  She  has  spoiled  all,  I  dare  say,  by  showing 
her  hand  too  openly,"  bristled  Aunt  Agnes,  the 
first  time  I  mentioned  the  subject 

"  In  that  case,  you  will  have  to  let  him  have  a 
glimpse  of  the  Harlan  pride,"  I  answered.  4<  I 
shall  depend  on  you  not  to  allow  me  to  be 


340          A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

forced  upon  him,  Aunt  Agnes.  I  am  sure, 
however,  that  Aunt  Helen  means  well  in  the 
matter.  She  may  be  a  little  indiscreet,  but  if 
you  were  to  talk  it  over  with  her  I  am  sure 
you  would  come  to  a  satisfactory  agreement. 
Now,  it  strikes  me  as  an  excellent  idea  for  you 
to  come  and  spend  a  few  days  with  us  at  New 
port  It  would  give  us  both  very  great  pleasure. 
Please  do  think  of  it  seriously." 

"Newport?  Do  you  take  me  for  a  fash 
ionable  do-nothing,  child  ?  Why,  your  aunt 
would  n't  let  me  inside  the  door !  I  have  only 
six  dresses  in  the  world.  Newport !  Tell  me  !  " 

"  What  nonsense,  Aunt  Agnes  !  I  promise  you 
that  you  shall  have  the  warmest  of  welcomes  if 
you  will  come,  and  you  may,  if  you  prefer,  wear 
the  same  dress  all  the  time  you  are  there." 

I  did  not  press  the  matter  at  the  moment,  but 
I  recurred  to  it  many  times  afterwards ;  and  as 
soon  as  I  got  home  I  told  Aunt  Helen  of  Aunt 
Agnes'  proposal  to  invite  Mr.  Ferroll  to  her  own 
house,  and  of  her  general  enthusiasm  in  regard 
to  his  proposed  visit. 

"  Bravo  !  "  she  responded,  clapping  her  hands. 
"  Your  aunt  shows  her  sense  for  once  in  her  life, 
though  one  would  have  to  be  blind  as  a  mole  not 
to  see  that  this  is  one  chance  in  a  thousand." 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  341 

"  What  should  you  say  to  asking  her  down 
here  for  a  few  days  ?  " 

"  Certainly,  dear.  She  does  n't  know  any  one, 
to  be  sure,  and  would  probably  dress  like  an 
antediluvian.  But  people  would  n't  think  any 
thing  of  that,  if  it  was  whispered  around  that  she 
is  literary  and  peculiar.  I  think  on  the  whole  it 
would  be  a  good  plan  to  ask  her.  I  can  give 
her  a  few  ideas  as  to  how  a  nobleman  should 
be  handled." 

"  Precisely,"  I  answered. 

Accordingly,  Aunt  Helen  and  I  each  wrote  a 
most  urgent  letter  of  invitation ;  and  after  some 
further  correspondence,  my  efforts  were  re 
warded  with  the  presence  in  my  house  of  my 
father's  sister.  For  the  first  twenty-four  hours, 
despite  my  cordial  welcome,  I  feared  every  mo 
ment  lest  she  should  announce  her  intention  of 
going  home  again.  Her  manner  was  so  stiff, 
and  Aunt  Helen's  so  airy,  that  I  was  apprehen 
sive  of  a  catastrophe.  But  at  last  by  the  display 
of  tact,  and  by  carefully  humoring  their  respective 
prejudices,  I  drew  them  gradually  together ;  and 
when  at  last  I  was  taken  apart  by  each  of  them 
successively  one  evening,  to  be  told  that  save 
for  certain  unfortunate  peculiarities  her  rival 
was  an  uncommonly  sensible  woman,  I  felt  that 


342          A   ROMANTIC    YOUNG  LADY. 

I  could  safely  retire,  and  leave  them  to  their 
day-dream  of  making  me  Duchess  of  Clyde. 

"  Duchess  or  no  duchess,  it  would  be  an  ad 
mirable  connection,"  said  Aunt  Agnes. 

"  And  there  is  no  shadow  of  a  doubt  that  his 
wife  will  be  a  duchess,"  added  Aunt  Helen. 

One  day,  shortly  after  we  had  returned  to 
town,  the  news  reached  us  that  the  Honorable 
Ernest  Ferroll  was  in  New  York,  and  as  a 
consequence  there  was  great  excitement  among 
those  who  had  been  told  of  his  projected  visit 
to  our  city.  In  her  wish  to  make  the  young 
nobleman  comfortable,  Aunt  Agnes  had  yielded 
to  the  remonstrances  of  her  former  enemy  as 
to  the  necessity  of  renovating  her  house,  and 
accordingly  was  absorbed  by  plumbers,  uphol 
sterers,  and  decorators,  who  under  the  general 
supervision  of  Aunt  Helen  undermined  the  cus 
toms  of  a  lifetime,  but  cemented  this  new  friend 
ship.  The  last  touches  were  being  put  to  the 
improvements,  and  complete  harmony  reigned 
between  the  two  establishments.  To  think  of 
Aunt  Agnes  dropping  in  on  Aunt  Helen,  or 
Aunt  Helen  drinking  tea  with  Aunt  Agnes ! 

It  therefore  happened  that  I  was  taken  very 
little  notice  of  by  my  two  relatives,  and  was  free 


A  ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.          343 

to  Indulge  the  sweet  current  of  sentiment,  of 
which  they  were  so  blissfully  unaware,  to  my 
heart's  content.  The  power  of  love,  and  the 
power  of  money !  How  when  united  did  they 
each  illumine  the  other,  —  they,  the  two  great 
est  forces  of  the  world  ! 

On  the  morning  following  the  day  on  which 
we  heard  of  Mr.  Ferroll's  arrival  in  New  York,  I 
saw  a  statement  in  the  daily  paper  which  made 
me  start  violently.  It  was  the  announcement  of 
the  failure  of  Roger  Dale,  banker  and  broker, 
with  liabilities  of  three  millions  and  estimated 
assets  of  less  than  one  hundred  thousand.  I 
hastened  to  get  ready  to  call  on  Mr.  Chelm, 
but  before  leaving  the  house  I  received  a  mes 
sage  from  him  which  read  as  follows :  "  Francis 
Prime  is  in  town,  and  I  have  made  an  appoint 
ment  with  him  for  twelve  o'clock.  You  will 
please  come  to  the  office  at  once,  if  possible." 

"What  has  happened,  Mr.  Chelm?"  I  asked, 
as  I  entered  the  room  where  he  was  sitting.  I 
tried  to  seem  calm  and  indifferent. 

"  Sit  down,  Miss  Harlan.  I  am  sorry  to  say 
that  your  friend  Francis  Prime  has  got  into 
difficulties.  Roger  Dale,  a  rather  prominent 
banker,  has  suspended  payment,  and  Mr.  Prime 
happens  to  be  one  of  his  largest  creditors." 


344          A  ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

11  Has  Mr.  Prime  failed  also?" 

"  Not  yet.  But  I  see  no  escape  for  him  on 
his  own  showing.  The  circumstances  are  pecu 
liar,  and  indicate  deliberate  fraud  on  the  part 
of  Dale ;  but,  as  Prime  says,  he  can't  let  his  own 
customers  suffer." 

"  This  is  all  a  riddle  to  me,"  I  said,  a  little  im 
patiently.  "  You  forget  that  I  do  not  know  the 
facts  yet." 

"  The  facts  are  simple  enough ;  and  the  whole 
difficulty,  it  seems,  is  indirectly  the  result  of 
having  anything  to  do  with  men  who  take  im 
proper  risks.  As  I  told  you  the  other  day, 
young  Prime  has  been  egged 'on  by  the  large 
sums  he  has  seen  made  in  a  few  days  by  others, 
to  go  joint  account  with  this  man  Dale,  who  has 
had  the  reputation  of  being  very  shrewd  and 
successful,  and  who,  by  the  way,  comes  from 
this  city.  The  speculations  turned  out  very 
well,  especially  this  last  one,  which  our  friend 
tells  me  was  to  have  been  his  last." 

"  Yes,  I  am  sure  it  was,"  I  answered  excitedly. 

Mr.  Chelm  looked  at  me  with  a  blank  sort  of 
gaze.  "Very  likely,"  he  observed,  with  a 
dry  smile.  "Well,  as  I  was  saying,  this  like 
the  others  was  profitable,  and  Prime  not  only 
had  enriched  himself  but  some  of  his  custo- 


A    ROMANTIC    YOUNG  LADY.  345 

mers  who  had  taken  the  risk  with  him.  The 
money  was  paid  to  him,  and  he  made  reports 
of  the  same  to  his  customers.  But  the  same 
day  Dale  came  in  and  asked  Prime  to  loan  him 
over  night  the  sum  he  had  just  paid  in,  as  a 
personal  favor.  Prime  says  he  hesitated,  not 
because  he  suspected  anything,  but  on  grounds 
of  common  prudence.  It  seemed  to  him,  how 
ever,  that  it  would  be  churlish  and  punctilious 
to  refuse  to  accommodate  the  man  to  whom  he 
owed  his  good  fortune,  and  so  he  lent  the  money. 
Next  day,  Dale  failed  disgracefully.  Of  course 
Mr.  Prime  feels  bound  in  honor  to  pay  his  cus 
tomers  their  profits,  which  happen  to  exceed  his 
capital.  There  is  the  whole  story." 

"  I  see.  And  what  do  you  advise  me  to  do?" 
I  asked,  after  a  pause. 

"Do?"  Mr.  Chelm  shrugged  his  shoulders. 
"  I  do  not  see  that  you  can  do  anything." 

"  I  can  pay  his  debts." 

"  You  can  pay  his  debts,  and  you  can  found  a 
Home  for  unsuccessful  merchant-princes,  if  you 
choose,  but  not  with  my  consent." 

"  He  has  behaved  very  honorably." 

"  Pooh !  Any  honest  man  would  do  the 
same." 

"  You  say  he  will  be  here  at  twelve?  " 


346  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

"  At  twelve." 

"Why  did  you  ask  him  to  come  back?" 

"  You  interrogate  like  a  lawyer.  I  told  him  I 
would  communicate  with  my  principal." 

"Did  he  ask  for  help?" 

"  Not  at  all.  He  was  ready  to  '  stand  the 
racket,'  he  said.  He  merely  wished  to  state  the 
facts.  He  blamed  himself  for  lack  of  discretion, 
and  I  could  not  contradict  him.  He  was  im»- 
maculate  as  ever  in  his  personal  appearance, 
but  he  looked  pale." 

"  Poor  fellow !  " 

"Yes,  it  is  unfortunate,  I  admit.  But  it  will 
teach  him  a  lesson.  A  man  who  wishes  to 
become  a  merchant-prince  cannot  afford  to 
trust  anybody." 

"  What  a  doctrine !  " 

"  Business  and  sentiment  are  incompatible." 

I  was  silent  a  moment  "  Mr.  Chelm,  when 
he  comes  here  at  twelve,  I  want  you  to  tell 
him  that  he  shall  not  fail,  and  that  I  will  pay 
his  debts." 

"  Miss  Harlan,  do  not  be  so  foolish,  I  beseech 
you !  " 

"  But  I  will  do  this  only  on  one  condition, 
and  that  is,  —  that  he  will  marry  me." 

"  What ! " 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  347 

I  blushed  before  the  lawyer's  gaze  and  ex 
clamation. 

"Marry  you?" 

"  Yes,  Mr.  Chelm.  Do  not  be  too  much  sur 
prised.  Trust  me.  I  know  what  I  am  doing, 
believe  me.  Have  I  not  hitherto  usually  been 
moderately  sensible?" 

"  Up  to  this  time  I  have  regarded  you  as 
an  uncommonly  wise  young  woman;  but  this 
is  sheer  madness." 

"As  you  please.  But  you  will  comply  with 
my  request  if  I  insist?  " 

"  He  will  accept  the  offer." 

"  If  he  does,  you  are  to  give  me  away, 
you  remember.  But  I  am  sure  he  will  not 
accept." 

"  You  were  sure  he  would  make  a  fortune." 

"  But  it  was  you  who  put  the  idea  of  marry 
ing  him  into  my  head." 

"  I  am  to  be  made  to  bear  the  blame,  of 
course.  There  is  one  hope,  however,  —  he 
thinks  you  sixty-five." 

"  Ah !  but  he  must  be  undeceived.  You 
must  tell  him  I  am  young  and  very  beautiful." 

"What  madness  is  this,  Virginia?" 

"Trust  me,  Mr.  Chelm,  and  do  what  I  ask 
you." 


34$  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

11  Very  well." 

"You  will  tell  him?" 

"  If  you  insist." 

"  And  I  shall  be  in  the  other  room  and  over 
hear  it  all.  Stop,  one  thing  more.  In  case  he 
refuses,  make  him  promise  to  come  to  see  me 
this  afternoon  for  a  half  hour.  That  at  least 
he  will  not  have  the  discourtesy  to  deny  me. 
But  only  if  he  refuses,  mind." 

"  Do  you  really  wish  me  to  make  this 
offer  ?"  said  Mr.  Chelm,  as  a  last  appeal. 

"  I  was  never  more  in  earnest  in  my  life,"  I 
replied. 

A  half  hour  later,  Mr.  Prime  entered,  followed 
as  usual  by  Ike.  I  had  made  Mr.  Chelm  promise 
that  he  would  leave  no  argument  unused  to  in 
duce  Francis  to  accept  my  offer.  He  looked 
pale  and  worn,  but  there  was  nothing  despairing 
or  otherwise  than  manly  in  his  air. 

"  I  have  seen  my  principal,  sir,"  said  Mr. 
Chelm  with  abruptness.  "  She  is  very  sorry  for 
you." 

"  I  thank  her  with  all  my  heart.  And 
some  day  I  hope  to  be  able  to  restore  to  her 
the  money  which  I  have  lost  through  my 
credulity." 

"  It  is  of  that  I  wish  to  speak.     Please  sit 


A    ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.  349 

down.  My  client  does  not  wish  you  to  fail. 
She  will  pay  your  debts." 

"  Impossible  !  " 

"  Please  do  not  interrupt  me.  But  she  de 
mands  of  you  a  favor  in  return." 

"  It  is  her's  to  command,  whatever  it  is;  but 
I  will  take  no  more  money." 

"Wait  until  you  hear  what  I  have  to  say.  In 
consideration  of  what  she  has  done  for  you,  and 
what  she  is  ready  to  do  for  you,  she  asks  you  to 
become  her  husband." 

"  Her  husband?" 

"  Yes,  that  is  the  favor." 

Francis  Prime  stood  confounded,  as  if  he 
were  doubting  either  his  sanity  or  that  of  his 
companion. 

"Her  husband?  Wishes  me  to  become  her 
husband?  " 

"Why  not?     She  loves  you." 

"  She  is  an  old  lady,  you  told  me." 

"Did  I?  I  was  trying  to  conceal  from  you 
then  that  she  is  young  and  excessively  beautiful. 
I  will  tell  you  more.  She  is  worth  four  millions 
in  her  own  right." 

"  What  is  her  name?  " 

"That  I  will  tell  you  also,  —  Miss  Virginia 
Harlan." 


350          A  ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

"  I  have  heard  of  her.     And  she  loves  me?  " 

"  Desperately.  Come,  sir,  you  hesitate,  it 
seems  to  me.  This  is  a  chance  that  does  not 
come  every  day." 

"  Heavens  and  earth,  what  am  I  to  say?" 

"  Say  you  accept.  You  asked  my  advice 
once,  and  now  I  give  it  to  you  again." 

"  But  I  do  not  love  her." 

"  A  mere  bagatelle.     You  would  very  soon." 

"  I  am  of  another  opinion.  I  could  never 
love  her,  for  the  reason,"  —  he  paused  an  in 
stant,  —  "  for  the  reason  that  I  love  some  one 
else." 

"  Ah  !  if  you  are  married,  that  settles  it." 

"  I  am  not  married." 

"Young  man,  you  are  a  great  fool  then." 
The  lawyer  was  really  waxing  angry.  "This 
young  lady  is  the  superior  of  any  man  I  know. 
You  are  throwing  away  a  prize. " 

"  That  may  be,  sir.  But  if  you  recall  a 
speech  I  made  in  this  office  some  six  months 
ago,  you  will  remember  that  I  said  I  was  a 
gentleman.  If  I  should  accept  the  offer  you 
make  me,  I  should  be  one  no  longer.  And  I 
prize  my  reputation  in  that  respect  more  than 
I  cherish  anything  in  the  world." 

"This   sounds    well,    sir,   but   it   is   childish- 


A   ROMANTIC    YOUNG  LADY.          351 

ness.  You  are  bound  to  make  my  client  amends 
for  your  folly.  It  is  in  your  power  to  marry  her, 
and  if  you  are  a  man  you  will  make  her  that 
reparation." 

"  Excuse  me,  Mr.  Chelm,  it  would  be  foolish 
for  us  to  argue  longer  on  this  point.  I  will  call 
again  to-morrow,  when  we  are  both  less  ex 
cited.  Do  not  think  I  wish  time  to  reflect, 
for  my  decision  is  final.  But  I  should  like 
your  client  to  know  that  I  am  not  wholly  an 
ingrate.  To-morrow,  if  you  say  so,  at  the 
same  hour." 

"  Stop  one  moment.  I  have  one  more  re 
quest  to  make  of  you,  which  you  can  hardly 
refuse,  perverse  as  you  seem  to  be.  My  client 
expressed  the  wish  that  in  case  you  should 
decide  as  you  have  done,  you  would  call  upon 
her  this  evening  at  her  own  house." 

Francis  bit  his  lip.  "  I  should  be  obliged  to 
make  the  same  answer." 

"  The  subject,  sir,  will  not  be  broached." 

"  Certainly,  then,  I  will  come." 

It  was  with  difficulty  that  I  could  restrain 
myself  from  rushing  into  the  room  and  falling 
at  his  feet ;  but  when  I  knew  that  he  was  gone, 
I  went  up  to  Mr.  Chelm  with  the  tears  in  my 
eyes. 


352  A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

"  I  did  my  best  for  you,  Virginia.  But  the 
fellow  is  right.  He  is  a  gentleman.  I  hated 
him  for  causing  you  such  pain,  but  if  he  loves 
some  one  else — well — one  can  scarcely  blame 
him." 

"  I  told  you  he  would  refuse  me.  Do  not 
mind  my  tears ;  and  promise  me  that  you  will 
come  to-night." 

"  What  new  mystery  is  this  ?  " 

"  Never  you  mind ;  only  promise  that  you  will 
come." 

How  shall  I  describe  that  meeting?  To 
begin  with,  I  went  home  and  broke  the  news  to 
Aunt  Helen  and  Aunt  Agnes  that  my  husband 
to  be  was  to  pass  the  evening  with  us,  and  for 
the  moment  did  not  break  to  them  another  bit 
of  news  I  had  heard  before  leaving  Mr.  Chelm, — 
that  the  Honorable  Ernest  Ferroll,  having  made 
a  large  fortune  in  the  stock  market  through  the 
agency  of  Mr.  Dale,  had  withdrawn  it  from  his 
hands  in  time,  so  as  not  to  have  it  swallowed  up 
by  the  failure,  and  had  sailed  for  England.  It 
was  money  he  wanted,  not  me. 

But  both  my  aunts,  poor  old  ladies,  fancied, 
I  fear,  that  it  was  the  future  Duke  of  Clyde  who 
was  to  be  the  guest  of  the  evening ;  and  when 


A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY.          353 

Francis  Prime  was  ushered  in,  although  he 
looked  distinguished  enough  to  be  a  Prince, 
Aunt  Helen,  at  least,  suspected  that  there  was 
something  wrong.  As  I  afterwards  learned,  her 
air  towards  my  lover  was  distant  and  haughty ; 
and  as  Aunt  Agnes  had  begun  of  late  to  imitate 
her  former  enemy,  his  reception  was  not  cordial. 
But  while  he  was  looking  from  one  to  another 
with  some  hesitation,  Mr.  Chelm,  who  was  stand 
ing  in  one  corner  of  the  room,  by  previous  agree 
ment  pulled  away  the  drapery  that  covered  the 
portrait  of  me  painted  by  Paul  Barr,  which 
stood  in  the  middle  of  the  room. 

Francis  gave  a  start,  and  flung  up  both  his 
hands.  "  Who  is  that?  "  he  cried. 

"  That,  sir,  is  my  niece,"  replied  Aunt  Helen 
with  haughtiness.  "  Are  you  not  acquainted 
with  her?" 

"  Impossible  !     It  is  Alice  Bailey." 

"  Yes,  Francis,"  I  said,  coming  into  the  room, 
"  it  is  Alice  Bailey;  but  it  is  Virginia  Harlan  as 
well.  The  power  of  love  and  the  power  of  money  ! 
My  own  sweet  husband,  you  are  mine  forever, — 
that  is,  if  you  will  have  me.  Ike  the  imperious, 
beautifully  ugly  Ike,"  —  for  I  had  released  the 
dog  from  the  vestibule  to  share  our  happiness,  — 
"you  are  mine  now,  as  well  as  his." 
23 


354          A   ROMANTIC   YOUNG  LADY. 

It  was  thus  that  I  gave  expression  to  my  hap 
piness,  clasped  in  the  arms  of  him  I  loved,  and 
who  loved  me,  while  the  others  were  too  dazed 
to  speak.  But  when  the  time  came  for  me  to 
be  given  away,  it  was  Mr.  Chelm  who  said  the 
necessary  words. 

In  adding  that  my  aunts  never  quarrelled 
again,  I  have  told  of  my  autobiography  all  that 
can  possibly  interest  the  public. 


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nearly  one  hundred  new  illustrations  by  leading  American  artists. 
Elegantly  and  appropriately  bound,  with  full  gilt  edges.  In  box. 
Cloth,  $6.00;  padded  calf,  tree-calf,  or  antique  morocco,  $  10.00.  A 
few  copies  in  crushed  Levant,  with  silk  linings,  925.00. 

"  The  Lay  of  the  Last  Minstrel ' '  is  larger  than  its  predecessors,  the  Holi 
day  volumes  published  under  Mr.  Anthony's  supervision,  and  its  broad  and 
handsome  pages  offer  very  favorable  opportunities  for  the  display  of  the 
illustrations,  which  are  masterpieces  of  modern  engraving. 

The  immediate  and  permanent  success  of  •'  The  Lady  of  the  Lake,1' 
"  Marmion,"  etc.,  has  encouraged  the  publishers  to  bring  out  this  not  less 
popular  and  famous  poem.  It  is  produced  in  the  same  style,  and  with  the 
same  careful  and  elaborate  style  of  illustration,  regardless  of  cost,  while  Mr. 
Anthony's  skilful  supervision  is  sufficient  guarantee  that  the  work  is  elegant 
and  tasteful  as  well  as  correct.  The  publishers  feel  assured  that  the  work 
in  its  new  and  beautiful  shape  will  be  the  Leading  Holiday  Book  of 
the  Year.  

THE  PETERKIN  PAPERS.  By  LUCRETIA  P.  HALE.  New  Holiday 
edition,  revised  and  enlarged,  uniform  with  "  Davy  and  the  Goblin/' 
Square  4to.  Illustrated  with  a  great  number  of  new  pictures.  $1.50. 
The  continued  popularity  of  these  inimitable  stories  has  compelled  the  issue 
of  this  new  and  enlarged  edition,  with  new  illustrations  and  type.  "  The 
Lady  from  Philadelphia,"  "  Agamemnon,"  "  Solomon  John,"  and  other 
characters  of  these  stories  have  become  household  words  in  thousands  of 
American  families  ;  and  the  publication  of  a  worthy  and  comely  edition  of 
00  delightful  a  classic  will  be  hailed  with  joy  by  many  old  friends  and  new. 

MURAL   PAINTING.    By  FREDERIC  CROWNINSHIELD.   1  rol.   Square 
8vo.     With  numerous  diagrams  and  full-page  illustrations.    93.00. 

This  series  of  papers  has  excited  great  interest  and  attention  in  "  The 
American  Architect ;  "  and  in  its  present  enlarged  and  amended  form,  with 
many  new  illustrations,  is  still  more  valuable. 

THE    VIRGINIA    CAMPAIGN    OF    GENERAL    POPE    IN    1862. 

Being  Volume  II.  of  Papers  read  before  the  Military  Historical  Soci 
ety  of  Massachusetts.    With  Maps  and  Plans.    1  vol.    8vo.    *3.00. 

A  careful  and  dispassionate  account  of  the  great  retreat  from  the  Rapidan 
to  the  Potomac,  with  the  stories  of  its  terrible  battles,  prepared  by  prom 
inent  military  officers,  and  dealing  with  the  Second  Bull-Run  campaign,  the 
Fitz-John  Porter  affair,  and  other  interesting  matters. 

SONGS   AND    SATIRES.    A  volume  of  poems.    By  JAMES  JEFFREY 
ROCHE.    1  vol.    12mo.    $1.00. 

The  range  and  versatility  of  these  poems  add  to  their  other  attractions,  and 
make  the  volume  a  very  popular  one.  Mr.  Roche's  vers  de  societc,  printed 
in  "  Life,"  and  other  publications,  are  of  singular  delicacy  and  originality, 
and  the  best  of  them  are  incorporated  in  this  volume,  together  with  many 
heretofore  unpublished  poems. 

GENIUS    IN  SUNSHINE  AND  IN  SHADOW.    By  M.  M.  BALLOU, 
author  of  "  Edge-tools  of  Speech."    1vol.    12mo.    $1.50. 

Mr.  Ballou  has  for  many  years  been  known  as  one  of  the  most  industrious, 
accurate,  and  entertaining  of  American  scholars.  The  present  volume  (his 
latest  work)  is  a  peculiarly  interesting  one,  full  of  anecdotes  and  memora 
bilia,  which  set  forth  the  intimate  inner  lives  of  the  world's  heroes  and 
notables.  They  have  been  gathered  from  the  most  recondite  source?,  and 
skilfully  massed  in  attractive  array,  forming  a  great  collection,  that  is  at 
once  valuable  and  interesting. 


Ticknor  and  Company. 


IN  OCTOBF.It. 

A    WONDERFUL    WORK    OF    ART. 

Mrs.  Browning's  Love  Sonnets. 

SONNETS   FROM   THE    PORTUGUESE.      liy    KMT:  MIRTH    BAR 
RETT  BKOWXIM;.     Illustrated   by  I.i  i>\  i> 
Oblong  folio  (pages  13  <  10  inches),  beautifully  bound,  gilt  top.    $15. oo! 

This  magnificent  work  has  been  a  labor  of  lore  for  yean  with  the  arti«t, 
who  U  the  prince  of  decorators,  and  has  lavished  upon  it  all  the  resource*  of 
his  imagination  and  skill.  The  result  is  a  magnificent  monument  to  the 
poems  that  are  enshrined  therein,  and  a  series  of  designs,  the  equal*  of 
which  as  a  mere  treasury  of  decoration  ami  invention,  apart  from  tin  ir  Mjr- 
nificance  in  illustrating  the  immortal  v,  Browning,  hm 

been  issued  in  America.  Each  sonnet  is  pn-t.ni' I  by  a  richly  ornamental 
half-title,  on  a  full  page,  and  is  surrounded  by  a  han  •  riuble- 

matic  in  its  design  and  composition.  Mr.  Ipsen  has  f«r  ninny  MMDI  been 
recogniied  as  the  foremost  leader  of  art -decoration  for  books,  bot 
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This  book  is  his  crowning  work,  and  will  afford  an  inexhaustible  treasury  of 
decoration  for  students  of  art,  and  a  life-study  for  all  lovers  of  beauty  and 
symmetry.  Mrs.  Browning's  sonnets  are  among  the  noblest  production* 
of  ancient  or  modern  literature  ;  ami  their  literary  excellence  auj  incom 
parable  beauty  of  diction  insure  for  them  certain  immortality. 

RECOLLECTIONS  OF  EMINENT  MEN,  and  Other  Papers. 
By  EDWIN  PKBCV  WHIPPLK.  1  vol.  Crown  8vo.  With  new  steel 
portrait  of  the  author,  and  precede*!  by  the  Memorial  Address  de 
livered  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  C.  A.  BAETOL.  f  1.50. 

A  new  book  by  Mr.  Whipple  is  a  literary  event ;  and  so  many  years  hsra 
elapsed  since  his  last  publication,  that  the  interest  will  be  more  intense  in 
the  present  volume,  which  contains  some  of  his  most  charming  and  char 
acteristic  papers,  including  monographs  on  Sumner,  Motley ,  Agassis,  Choate, 
and  George  Eliot. 

STORIES  OF  ART  AND  ARTISTS.  By  CLARA  ERSKINE  CLEM- 
KST.  1  vol.  8vo.  Profusely  illustrated.  In  cloth,  $400;  In  half 
parchment,  $4  50. 

This  work,  historical  and  descriptive,  (jives  a  complete  re'sum^  of  t 
tory  of  Art,  with  accounts  of  the  various  schools,  sketches,  and  aneodoU* 
of  all  the  great  artists,  with  portraits  and  reproductions  of  thi-ir  work-     The 
author  is  well  known  as  a  charming  writer  and  an  acknowledged  authority 
on  art  criticism  and  history. 

PERSIA  AND  THE  PERSIANS.  By  Hon.  S  O.  W  BRV.IAMIX,  lafe 
U.S.  Minister  to  the  Court  <>f  Persia.  1  vol.  8vo.  With  portrait 
and  many  illustrations.  Beautifully  bound.  95.00.  Half  calf,  $900. 

The  author  is,  perhaps,  the  best  Imn?  authority  on  Per'in.and  thin  book 
embodies  the  results  of  his  observation  and  experience  during  the  yean  of 
his  residence  as  United  States  Minister,  combining  novel  and  entertaining 
adventures  and  descriptions,  with  political  an-1  "f  (treat 

value  His  rare  skill  as  a  landscape  painter  Imsnvalleil  to  (tire  ninny  choice 
pictures  of  the  great  Asiatic  realm,  with  its  stores  of  poetry  and  legend,  lt» 
strange  customs,  and  its  romantic  scenery  and  architecture. 


A  List  of  Books  Published  by 


STEADFAST.    A  Novel.    By  ROSE  TERRY  COOKE,  author  of  "Some 
body's  Neighbors."     1  vol.     12mo.    $1.50. 

Arlo  Bates  write?  as  follows,  in  the  Boston  Courier  :  "  A  correspondent, 
signing  herself  X,  writes  to  the  Advertiser  in  an  absurd  panic,  left, '  in 
honoring  Mrs.  Rose  Terry  Cooke,  we  shall,  as  in  Hawthorne's  case,  wait  until 
Old  England  tells  New  England  what  a  genius  she  is  neglecting.'  As  it  has 
for  years  been  generally  recognized  and  heartily  acknowledged  that  Mrs. 
Cooke  has  written  the  best  stories  of  New-England  country-life  ever  pub 
lished,  the  fear  of '  X  '  seems  somewhat  needless." 

CONFESSIONS   AND  CRITICISMS.     By   JULIAN   HAWTHORNE. 
1  vol.     12mo. 

A  scries  of  very  delightful  essays  and  papers,  with  reminiscences  and 
other  memorable  papers,  prepared  by  one  of  the  most  skilful  and  interesting 
of  American  authors,  and  calculated  to  attract  and  keep  the  attention  of  all 
readers.  It  includes  a  great  variety  of  valuable  miscellany,  and  several 
papers  that  have  already  become  classic  among  people  of  cultivation  and 
acumen. 

THE   HOUSE  AT  HICH   BRIDGE.     By  EDGAR  FAWCETT.    1  vol. 
12mo.     31-50. 

The  announcement  of  an  entirely  new  novel  from  the  pen  of  the  writer  of 
"  Adventures  of  a  Widow,'1  etc. ,  is  sufficient  to  pique  the  curiosity  of  many 
readers,  who  find  in  this  author  the  best  traits  of  modern  literature.  "  The 
House  at  High  Bridge  "  is  an  entirely  new  work,  not  having  been  published 
serially. 


FOR    LATER    ISSUE. 

YE    OLDEN    TIME    SERIES.     The  following  are  forthcoming  vol 
umes  :  — 

"  Literary  Curiosities." 

"  New-England  Music  in  the  18th  and  in  the  beginning  of  the  19th 

Century." 

"Travel  in  Old  Times,  with  Some  Account  of  Stages,  Taverns,"  etc. 
"  Curiosities  of  Politics,  among  the  Old  Federalists  and  Republicans." 

NORA    PERRY'S    POEMS. 

A  new  volume  of  poems  by  Nora  Perry  is  now  in  press,  and  its  publication 
will  be  awaited  with  great  interest  by  the  thousands  of  admirers  of  this  bril 
liant  and  piquant  writer. 

A  new  edition  of  "Her  Lover's  Friend"  and  "After  the  Ball "  (two 
volumes  in  one)  is  now  in  press. 

RANKELL'S    REMAINS.    A  Novel.    By  BARRETT  WENDELL,  author 
of  "  The  Duchess  Emilia."    1  vol.    12nio. 

The  remarkable  success  of  Barrett  Wendell's  "The  Duchess  Emilia,"  a 
romance  of  the  Colonna  family  in  papal  Rome,  gives  the  best  reason  to  hope 
for  a  similar  (or  even  greater)  triumph  for  his  new  novel,  on  which  he  has 
been  engaged  for  two  years.  That  it  will  be  a  strong  and  original  work,  no 
one  who  has  read  Wendell's  previous  story  can  for  a  moment  doubt. 


Ticknor  and   Company. 


A  MURAMASA  BLADE.  A  Story  of  Feudalism  In  Old  Japan  BT 
Louis  WEKTHKIMHEH.  l?ol.  8vo.  Beautifully  Ulu»ir»t«J  by  Jai>- 
aneae  artists.  93.00. 

Mr.  Wertheimber,  of  a  scholarly  Austrian  family,  went  to  Japan  about 
the  year  1870,  and  speut  many  years  there,  in  the  service  of  tho  J&pmMM 
QoTernment.     He  was  an  exteniiTe  traTeller  among  the  inland  dist 
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other  publications.     The  present  book  is  a  romance  of  the  sword,  full  of 
charming  local  color,  true  to  life  as  it  Is  in  Japan,  and  full  of  deep  and  en 
chaining  interest.     Its  mechanical  make-up  is  sumptuous  in  every  renpect. 

ACNES  8URRIACE.  A  Novel.  By  EDWIN  LASSETTKK  BYNNKU 
author  of  "  Dnmen'8  Ghost,"  "  Penelope'*  Suitor*,"  etc.  $1.50. 

This  new  novel  by  the  author  of  "  Tritons  "  and  "  Nimport  "  will  have  a 
large  constituency  of  readers  and  admirers. 

SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS   OF   NOTED   PERSONS.     By  Hon.  J.  8. 

MoUUILL.     $150. 

The  well-known  and  erudite  Senator  from  Vermont  has,  In  thii  work, 
condensed  the  fruits  of  years  of  curious  research  in  a  strong  and  unfamiliar 
field.  The  result  is  a  rarely  entertaining  volume  of  great  value  to  all 
scholars  and  public  men,  and  interesting  to  all  readers.  A  small  edition 
was  privately  printed  MUIIC  time  since,  and  met  with  such  praise  and  appre 
ciation  that  Senator  Morrill  has  since  carefully  revised  and  materially 
augmented  it  for  publication. 

THE  MINISTER'S  CHARGE.  By  W.  D.  HOWELLS,  author  of  "The 
Rise  of  Silas  Lapham,"  "  Indian  Summer,"  etc.  $1.50. 

"  In  this  great  novel  of  the  people  Henry  James  finds  that  Mr  HowelUi 
touches  high-water  mark  ;  and  sees  an  important  and  valuable  work  in  thu 
minute  and  subtle  registering  of  the  heavy-witted  countryman'*  slow  de 
velopment  under  city  conditions.  However  that  may  be.  Howells's  pure, 
inimitable  fun  is  enough  to  carry  any  story  he  may  write.  Like  all  true 
fun,  this  has  a  most  searching  pathos  all  the  time  just  at  hand;  and  never 
is  the  real  dignity  of  character  of  this  actual  Yankee  forgotten  or  trifled 
with." —  .Boston  Transcript. 

STORIES  AND  SKETCHES.  By  JOHN  BOYLE  O'RFILLT,  editor 
of  the  I'iiot,  author  of  "  Moondyne,"  etc.  12tno.  f  1.50. 

The  great  popu'arity  of  the  author,  and  the  intrinsic  merit  and  interest 
of  his  writings,  will  insure  a  warm  reception  to  this  collection  of  his  latest 
and  best  works. 

SAFE  BUILDING.    By  Louis  Du  Cori'KT  BKBG.    1  roL    Square  STO. 

85.00. 


A  List  of  Books  Published  by   Ticknor  §  Co. 


THE 

MEMORIAL  HISTORY  OF  BOSTON, 

In  Four  Volumes.    Quarto. 

With  more  than  500  Illustrations  by  famous  artists  and  engravers,  all 
made  for  this  work. 

Edited  by  JUSTIN  WINSOR,  LIBRARIAN  OF  HARVARD  UNIVERSITY. 

Among  the  contributors  are  :  — 

GOT.  JOHN  D.  LONG,  Dr.  0.  W.  HOLMES, 

Hon.  CHARLES  FRANCIS  ADAMS,  JOHN  G.  WHITTIER, 

Kev.  PHILLIPS  BROOKS,  D.D.,  Rev.  J  F.  CLARKE,  D.D., 

Eey.  E.  E.  HALE,  P.O.,  Rev.  A.  P.  PEABODY,  D.D., 

Hon.  ROBERT  C.  WINTHROP,  Col.  T.  \V.  HIGOINSON, 

Hon.  J.  HAMMOND  TRUMBULL,  Professor  ASA  GRAT, 

Admiral  G.  H.  PREBLS,  Gen.  F.  W.  PALFREY, 
HENRY  CABOT  LODGE. 


VOLUME  I.  treats  of  the  Geology,  Fauna,  and  Flora ;  the  Voyages  and  Maps  ot 
the  Northmen,  Italians,  Captain  John  Smith,  and  the  Plymouth  Settlers  ; 
the  Massachusetts  Company,  Puritanism,  and  the  Aborigines  ;  the  Lit 
erature,  Life,  and  Chief  Families  of  the  Colonial  Period. 

VOL.  II.  treats  of  the  Royal  Governors  ;  French  and  Indian  Wars ;  Witches 
and  Pirates;  The  Religion,  Literature,  Customs,  and  Chief  Families  of  the 
Provincial  Period. 

VOL.  III.  treats  of  the  Revolutionary  Period  and  the  Conflict  around  Boston ; 
and  the  Statesmen,  Sailors,  and  Soldiers,  the  Topography,  Literature,  and 
Life  of  Boston  during  that  time  ;  and  also  of  the  Last  Hundred  Years' 
History,  the  War  of  1812,  Abolitionism,  and  the  Press. 

VOL  IV.  treats  of  the  Social  Life,  Topography,  and  Landmarks,  Industries, 
Commerce,  Railroads,  and  Financial  History  of  this  Century  in  Boston ; 
with  Monographic  Chapters  on  Boston's  Libraries,  Women,  Science,  Art, 
Music,  Philosophy,  Architecture,  Charities,  etc. 

%*  Sold  by  subscription  only.     Send  for  a  Prospectus  to  the 
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POETS   AND    PROBLEMS. 

By  GEORGE  WILLIS  COOKE,  author  of  "  Ralph  Waldo  Emer 
son  :  His  Life,  Writings,  and  Philosophy,"  and  "George  Lliot: 
A  Critical  Study  of  Her  Life,  Writings,  and  Philosophy."  I2ma 
$2.00. 

"  Exceptionally  fine ;  of  critical  value  and  full  of  suggestive  insight."  — 
Traveller. 

An  interesting  study  of  the  three  foremost  Englishmen  in  the  republic  of 
letters,  —  Tennyson,  lirowning,  and  Kuskin, —  with  their  personal  traits,  literary 
histories,  and  most  notable  works. 

EVERY-DAY    RELIGION. 

By  JAMES  FREEMAN  CLARKE,  D.D.  $1.50. 

"  Full  of  the  richest  and  most  helpful  thought."  —  Boston  Courier. 
"  There  is  not  a  dull  page  in  the  book.     Every  sentence  throbs  with  life."  — 
Buffalo  Christian  Advocate. 

EDGE-TOOLS    OF   SPEECH. 

By  MATURIN  M.  BALLOU.    8vo.    $3.50. 

"  Truly  '  a  book  which  hath  been  culled  from  the  flowers  of  all  books,'  includ 
ing  striking  passages,  pungent  apothegms,  brilliant  thoughts,  etc.,  from  the  great 
men  of  all  ages.  Every  writer  and  speaker,  professional  man  and  student,  should 
own  this  vast  treasury  of  genius." 

THE  LIFE  AND  GENIUS  OF  GOETHE. 

The  Lectures  at  the  Concord  School  of  Philosophy  for  1885. 
Edited  by  F.  B.  SANBORN  and  W.  T.  HARRIS,  i  vol.  izmo. 
With  two  portraits.  $2.00. 

Goethe's  Youth,  Self-Culture,  Titanism,  Miirchen,  Elective  Af 
finities,  Women,  Faust,  Portrayal  of  Child-Life,  Schiller,  Relations 
to  English  Literature,  etc. 

LIGHT  ON  THE   HIDDEN   WAY. 

With  Introduction  by  JAMES  FREEMAN  CLARKE.    $i  oo. 

A  remarkable  and  vivid  study  of  immortality.  All  readers  of 
literature  of  the  supernatural,  in  books  like  "  The  Little  Pilgrim," 
will  be  interested. 

"  Singularly  interesting." — Church  Prett. 


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THE  FAMILIAR   LETTERS 

OF 

Peppermint  Perkins. 

IGmo,   Illustrated. 
$1.00.     In  paper  covers,  50  cents. 


"  These  letters  have  attracted  much  attention  in  many  quarters,  and  the  orders 
for  them  have  come  in  in  large  numbers  from  every  State  in  the  Union.  They 
are  original,  bright,  and  breezy,  and  seem  to  strike  a  familiar  chord  everywhere." 
—  Boston  Gazette. 

"A  series  of  papers  touching  pretty  sharply  (and  very  funnily  withal)  upon 
fashion,  society  customs,  personal  frivolity,  and  ridiculous  pretensions  generally. 
These  are  addressed  to  her  friend,  '  Poesie  Plympton '  (who  is  abroad)  in  a  spirit 
of  most  charming  abandon,  revealing  such  a  familiarity  with  the  scenes  and  sub 
jects  that  she  writes  about  that  no  one  can  doubt  she  has  been  among  them  taking 
notes,  while  her  style  indicates  her  femininity,  though  there  are  many  who  doubt 
it.  There  has  nothing  more  piquant,  spicy,  and  unconventional  ever  been  pub 
lished  in  Boston,  and  Peppermint  '  takes  the  cake.'  "  —  Hartford  Post. 

"  These  letters  attracted  not  a  little  attention  at  the  Hub  for  their  audacity  in 
kicking  over  the  classic  styles  and  violating  all  the  established  dogmas  of  dignity 
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dinary  Boston  life,  and  thus  supply  a  clearly  defined  want.  This  explains  their 
local  popularity,  and  gives,  also,  a  reason  why  the  outside  world  should  turn  the 
pages  of  the  book  as  a  sort  of  mirror  reflecting  a  phase  of  Boston  culture.  It 
purports  to  be  written  by  a  woman,  but  there  are  indications  that  the  character  is 
assumed."  —  New  York  Home  Journal. 

"  This  bright  series  of  amusing  comments  on  characteristic  failings  of  the  last 
decade  .  .  .  are  supposed  to  be  the  weekly  budgets  of  news  written  by  a  young 
girl  in  Boston  to  a  dear  friend  in  Venice.  .  .  .  '  Emergency  lectures,"  fashionable 
religion,  amateur  cooking,  horse-car  politeness,  servants,  summer  hotels,  symphony 
concerts,  and  other  Boston  topics  are  wittily  touched  upon,  and  the  frailty  of 
human  nature,  especially  of  feminine  human  nature,  is  most  mercilessly  exposed 
in  the  various  phases  which  they  suggest."  —  The  Commercial  Bulletin. 


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The  best  companions  of  all  who  wish  to  get  the  largest  possible 
amount  of  pleasure  out  of  a  summer  journey.  The  history,  poetry, 
and  legends  of  each  locality.  Scores  of  maps  and  panoramas. 
Prices  and  locations  of  hotels,  summer  resorts,  and  routes.  Newly 
revised.  400  to  500  pages  each.  $1.50  each. 

"  The  Osgood  Guide-books  are  much  the  best  we  have  ever  hid  in  thU  country, 
and  they  can  challenge  comparison  with  Haedeker's,  which  is  the  best  in  K.urope, 
The  volume  devoted  to  the  White  Mountains  is  full,  precise,  compact,  §«: 
and  honest." — New  York  Tribunt. 

NEW    ENGLAND. 

A  guide  to  its  cities  and  resorts,  scenery  and  history.  With  16 
maps  and  plans.  $1.50. 

"  It  is  a  faithful,  painstaking  piece  of  work,  and  condenses  into  brief  compass 
a  vast  amount  of  information,  which  all  tourists  to  the  summer  resorts  of  New 
England  will  gladly  possess." — \etv  York  Evtninf  I'ait. 

THE    WHITE    MOUNTAINS. 
450  pages;  6  maps  and  6  panoramas.     $1.50. 

"  As  perfect  a  thing  of  its  kind  as  could  well  be  produced.  It  is  simply 
indispensable  to  all  who  visit  or  sojourn  among  the  White  Mountains."  — 
Congregationalist. 

THE    MARITIME    PROVINCES. 

Nova  Scotia,  Cape  Breton,  New  Brunswick,  Prince  Edward 
Island,  Newfoundland,  and  Labrador.  With  8  maps  and  plans. 
$1.50. 

"  By  its  intrinsic  value,  copiousness  of  information,  and  impartiality,  it  is  likely 
to  take  the  place  of  all  other  guides  to  Canada  which  we  know  of."  —  Qntbte 
ChronitU. 

THE   SAUNTERER. 

By  CHARLES  GOODRICH  WHITING.    Illustrated.    $1.25. 

"  A  book  of  unusual  quality  and  charm.  Mr.  Whiting  is  a  bom  poet,  whose 
prose  is  often  as  distinctly  and  delightfully  poetic  as  his  verse.  He  is  a  born 
natufc  lover ;  few  young  literary  men  know  our  New  England  woods,  pastures, 
hills,  and  rivers  vi  "intimately,  in  all  weathers  and  under  all  skies,  or  have  written 
of  them  so  well."  — Hartford  Courant. 

THE  STORIED  SEA. 

By  MRS.  GEN.  LEW  WALLACE.    |i.oo. 

"This  airily  graceful  little  book  carries  within  it  something  of  the  sa't  sweet 
ness  of  the  sea,  of  the  fantastic  glow  of  the  Orient,  and  the  cool  beauty  of  classic 
shores."  —  Neva  York  Tribune- 

NANTUCKET  SCRAPS. 

By  MRS.  JANE  G.  AUSTIN.    $1.50. 

OVER  THE   BORDER. 

By  Miss  E.  B.  CHASE.  With  Nova  Scotia  Views  and  Map.    $i  50- 


TICKNOR  AND  COMPANY,  Boston. 


THE  CHOICEST  NOVELS. 

The   Story    of    Margaret 
Kent.    By  Henry  Hayes    .  #1.50 
The  Prelate.     By  Isaac  Hen- 

ROSE  TERRY  COOKE'S 

The  Sphinx's  Children      .     .  $1.50 
Somebody's  Neighbors  .     .    .     1.50 

EDMUND  QUINCY'S 

Next  Door.     By  Clara  Louise 

The  Haunted  Adjutant      .     .     1.50 

NORA  PERRY'S 

Book  of  Love  Stories       .     .    $1.00 

MR.  HOWELLS'S  NOVELS. 

Indian  Summer   $  .50 

Dr.  Sevier.     By  George  VV. 
Cable      1.50 

For  a  Woman.      By  Nora 
Perry       i.oo 

Eustis.     By  Robert  Apthorp 

A  Woman  of  Honor.     By 
H.  C.  Bunner  1.25 

The  Rise  of  Silas  Lapham     .       .50 
A  Woman's  Reason      .     .     .      .50 
A  Modern  Instance  50 
Dr.  Breen's  Practice    ...       .50 
A  Fearful  Responsibility  .     .       .50 

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Love  —  or  a  Name  .     .     .     .  $  .50 
Fortune's  Fool    .50 

Aubert  Dubayet.     By  Chas. 
Gayarre  2.00 

John  Kantoul.      By   Henry 
Loomis  Nelson      ....     1.50 
The  Duchess  Emilia.     By 
Barrett  Wendell    .     .     .     .     1.50 
Daisy  Miller.     By  Henry 

Beatrix  Randolph    50 

EDGAR  FAWCETTS 

Tinkling  Cymbals     .     .     .     .  $  .50 
Adventures  of  a  Widow     .     .       .50 
Social  Silhouettes     50 

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Confessions  of  a  Frivolous  Girl  $1.25 
An  Average  Man      ....     1.50 
The  Knave  of  Hearts    .    .     .     1.25 

EDWARD  KING'S 

The  Golden  Spike    ....  $1.50 
The  Gentle  Savage  ....     2.00 

E.  W.  HOWE'S 

A  Moonlight  Boy     .     .     .     .  $1.50 
The  Story  of  a  Country  Town     1.50 
The  Mystery  of  the  Locks      .     1.50 

BLANCHE  W.  HOWARD'S 

Guenn    .     .  $1.50 

A  Reverend  Idol    ....    1.50 
Where     the     Battle    was 
Fought.      By  Charles  Eg 
bert  Craddock  1.50 

The  Led-Horse  Claim.     By 
Mary  Hallock  Foote       .     .     1.25 
Miss    Ludington's    Sister. 
By  Edward  Bellamy  .     .     .     1.25 
Eleanor  Maitland.  By  Clara 
Erskine  Clement  ....     1.25 
A  Washington  Winter.    By 
Madeleine  Vinton  Dahlgren     1.50 
Her   Washington    Season. 
By  Jeanie  Gould  Lincoln     .     1.50 
His  Two  Wives.     By  Mary 

Dr.  Grimshawe's  Secret.  By 

Nathaniel  Hawthorne     .     .     1.50 
A  Midsummer  Madness.  By 
Ellen  Olnev  Kirk       .     .     .     1.25 
The  Lost  Name.     By  Made 
leine  Vinton  Dahlgren   .     .     i.oo 

HENRY  JAMES'S 

The  Siege  of  London  .    .     .  $1.50 
The  Author  of  Beltraffio  .     .     1.50 
Tales  of  Three  Cities   .     .    .     1.50 

Aulnay  Tower     1.50 

Aunt  Serena    1.25 

HENRY  CREVILLE'S 

Dosia's  Daughter     .     .    .    .  $1.25 

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